Footage of young religious revellers partying at a Hillsong youth camp - despite millions of Australians being banned from singing and dancing - has sparked outrage with critics alleging it resembles a music festival.
The megachurch's Hillsong Youth branch shared a series of videos showing its teenage followers partying to religious-themed pop music on the first night of the Wildlife Summercamp in Newcastle on Wednesday.
The event for Year 10 to 12 students was permitted to go ahead despite the NSW Government recently extending a ban on singing and dancing in nightclubs, pubs and bars to outdoor events - leading several music festivals to be cancelled.
However, NSW Health made an exemption for religious services - with NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant this week saying religious services were exempted from the rules because those attending such places of worship normally stay in 'fixed positions'.
The exemption has sparked backlash with one pub in Sydney's inner Sydney, the Gladstone Hotel in Chippendale, ironically changing its name to the 'Gladsong' Hotel and announcing a 'Sunday Service' event this weekend.
Several prominent Aussies have now hit out at Hillsong, saying the youth event resembled an indoor music festival more than a religious service - a claim Hillsong denies.
One commentator slammed video showing the dancing: 'Singing and ritual are part of faith (inc mine) but on any test this is an indoor music festival.
'As the live music industry again is forced to cancel gigs, this was entirely legal. Is that fair?'
High-profile media personality Lindsay 'The Doctor' McDougall also criticised Hillsong, noting the event took place as regular festivals and gigs are forced to cancel their events to comply with the new rules.
Australian rapper Illy - who has already hit out at the singing and dancing ban - said Hillsong organisers went a step too far by playing the DJ Snake song Turn Down For What.
'I can handle the singing, the dancing, and the no mask wearing at this Hillsong festival last night, even though it’s illegal for the entire arts industry to do the same,' he wrote on Twitter.
'But playing Turn Down For What' in 2022?! Too far.'
Hillsong Youth shared a series of videos showing its teenage followers partying to religious-themed pop music on Wednesday night
Australians on Thursday hit out at the church, saying the Newcastle event resembled an indoor music festival more than a religious service - a claim Hillsong denies
'There is no difference between this Hillsong summer camp and any other music festival. So why was it allowed to go ahead when all other events are prohibited?'
60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort wrote: 'Here's the full video Hillsong posted of its "camp" (festival).
'Singing, packed crowds, not a mask to be seen. So disgustingly irresponsible when other businesses are shut down, and we have 92,000 new cases in NSW today.'
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Hillsong said the church's high school-aged youth camps were not comparable to music festivals and that Covid-safe protocols were followed throughout.
'Our camps involve primarily outdoor recreational activities including sports and games,' the statement said.
