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The biggest elephant in the room at this year's ARIAs? Mike Baird's lockout laws, ironically coming from The Star, one of the few venues exempt from #CasinoMike's controversial policy.
The night's big winner Flume used his best dance release acceptance speech to call on "our policy-makers and politicians to please Keep Sydney Open, so that the next artists can have the same opportunity I had."
When accidental hero Daniel McConnell gave his account of chasing down a car that had driven into a nearby shop on national TV, he triggered a fierce bidding war. Andrew Hornery investigates.
Versailles: Treasures from the Palace presented by National Gallery of Australia in Canberra features more than 130 paintings, sculptures, porcelain, furniture and tapestries from the royal palace of King Louis XIV.
Thousands of fans packed the Sydney Opera House forecourt to see the band recreate their iconic farewell concert twenty years ago. Vision: Today Show, Channel Nine.
Winning five awards, Flume cleaned the floor at this years ARIA awards, while Sia, Troye Sivan and Violent Soho also bagged gongs.
"Small venues and small parties, that's where all the exciting stuff is happening," he said in a passionate speech onstage.
"I performed at Goodgod Small Club supporting Chet Faker, that was one of my earliest gigs. And I think it's so important for the future of music here that there is a scene," he added backstage.
Flume accepts an ARIA for Best Independent Release during the 30th Annual ARIA Awards 2016 at The Star on November 23, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Cameron Spencer
"It's incredibly vital to our community and our reputation. If these small clubs get closed down, it's going to ruin the scene. I want to fight that."
Breakthrough artist winner Montaigne also displayed a prominent Keep Sydney Open message on the red carpet and onstage, the message "people over profit" scrawled across her chest.
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"It's about the lockouts in Sydney, and the way the government is treating arts in this city. I don't think they're giving it the priority it needs to have," she said about the message.
"If you're going to prioritise, say, the casinos and residential development and all that bullshit over the art scene... There's not really much point for us."
Montaigne accepts an ARIA for Breakthrough Artist. Photo: Cameron Spencer
Backstage in the media room, Sarah Blasko, who took out the award for best adult alternative album for Eternal Return, also spoke out against the laws.
"I'm totally in support of the Keep Sydney Open campaign, it makes sense to me," she told reporters.
Sarah Blasko accepts an ARIA for Best Adult Alternative Album. Photo: Brendon Thorne
"As a musician, I've enjoyed many late nights playing shows, or going to see other people's shows, and dancing like a moron at late hours.
"It's been an important part of my development as a human being. And culturally, it's important for people to experience the city at all hours, and for [the government] to address the drinking problem as a separate issue."
ARIA awards 2016: Live ceremony action and ARIA winners
Sydney's controversial laws, which include 1.30am lockouts for live music venues and last drinks at 3am, was introduced in March 2014 in response to drunken violence in Kings Cross.
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