Class action begins over festival strip-searches

The hearing challenges the lawfulness of thousands of strip searches carried out by NSW Police at Australian music festivals between 2016-22

News By James Hanley | 7 May 2025

Splendour in the Grass

A class action lawsuit against the state of NSW has begun in Australia over potentially unlawful strip-searches at music festivals by police officers. More than 3,000 alleged victims have joined the legal action, which was launched by Slater and Gordon Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre and covers the years 2016-22.

“There were many thousands of persons strip-searched at festivals in the claim period,” Kylie Nomchong SC, representing the plaintiffs, told the Supreme Court of NSW this week.

The court heard that…

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