The research published in the Melbourne University Law Review found street performance laws in Sydney and Melbourne helped cultivate public performance despite the rules and regulations seeming quite complex on paper.

UOW law professor Julia Quilter and her previous colleague Dr Luke McNamara (now at UNSW) both shared a love for music and wanted to investigate how the rules were enforced in practice and whether buskers thought the regulations stifled their ability to “do their thing”.

“Street performers have been part of cityscapes for centuries, yet buskers have often had an ambiguous relationship with the law. At various times they have been policed as ‘beggars in disguise,’ or treated as an urban nuisance,” they wrote.

Dr Quilter said originally they had looked at basing the study in Wollongong but discovered the guidelines set by Wollongong City Council were too “loose” for their liking so focused on Sydney and Melbourne, and hoped other cities could learn from their findings.

The pair’s qualitative research was conducted from 2013 to 2015 and involved council officers, rangers and buskers.

Dr Quilter said they were “delighted” to find authorities in both cities had very positive relationships with most street performers - unlike motorists and parking inspectors -  and general consensus was street performers often revitalised urban spaces.

“Often people are busy moving through thoroughfares, but good street music and a good street culture actually draws people in and gets them to stop and pause, and realise life isn’t just about rushing to the next appointment,” said Dr Quilter.

She hoped the study would encourage councils to work with buskers instead of against, to use public spaces in diverse ways.

Picaro Humbert, 24, is a roving international street performer from Austria and often performs originals and covers at markets in the Crown Street Mall. 

Initially he turned to busking to pay the rent when a bank transaction failed, but found he loved the experience of connecting with people through music. He says Australia is one of the most welcoming countries for buskers.

“It’s much nicer to busk in Australia than other places. In Europe the police are chasing us down … you’re on the run all day,” he said.

“Here the people are much more relaxed. If the music is good nobody’s going to complain, when the music is bad and you’re playing super loud you’re going to get trouble.”

“In Europe it happened many times you’d be playing and people were like ‘this is cool’, but the police they hear it and they come to see what’s going on and shut it down.

“The fines are really high … and they take all of your equipment.”

Currently Wollongong buskers only need to organise daily permits and abide by regulations for the Crown Street Mall.

“While you're busking: remain in your precinct and at least 3 metres from any shop entry. Also keep a clear path for pedestrians. Ensure you stay within your time limit. Stay unplugged – no amplification. No offensive language, and neat and tidy dress must be worn,” explains council’s website. 

It proves to be far more expensive than Sydney and Melbourne who only charge annual fees.

Wollongong permits are $10 per day as compared to a $47 fee for 12 months in Sydney or a $20 annual fee in Melbourne.

Under the draft Crown Street Mall Activity policy, buskers may need to audition in the future to obtain a permit, but Dr Quilter said these types of rules also apply to Sydney and Melbourne which was found to be welcomed by buskers. They believed it ensured a high standard of performance.

“We are keen to see public spaces used in diverse ways, we think street performance is an important cultural part of any city,” said Dr Quilter.

“Wollongong, particularly in the mall, has got a long way to go to create a more active and interesting life there, it really does need to rejuvenate itself and I think one way they could do it is encourage more street music.”