The Melbourne City Greens hosted a public forum on Thursday called “Beyond The Lockout“, as reported on Channel 9’s live cross on the 6 o’clock news. (right: Greens Lord Mayor Candidate Adam Bandt)
Attended by Licensees, consumers, members of Victoria Police, members of various drug and alcohol organisations, staffers for State Parliamentarians and a current Melbourne City Councillor, the meeting heard from four speakers before an extensive question and answer session and discussion.
As Peter Hitchener of Channel 9 reported, the meeting was called to look at alternatives to the 2am lockout, which had “descended into farce”.
Many ideas were raised, including ID scanners and breathalysers inside venues, by audience members*. But the most common response from attendees was that existing laws needed to be properly policed. Many also questioned the extent of the problem, with Adam Bandt citing the tabloid nature of the recent interest in the issue and likening the ill-conceived lockout regulations to “cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer”. That is not to say that there isn’t a problem: no meeting attendee was willing to deny that more should be done to ensure that the inner city is safer after dark.
The Greens, through consultation and a measured approach that hasn’t pandered to media frenzy, have prepared their Night-time Safety in the CBD policy, which was released on the weekend. It is the first of many policy statements that will be released in the lead-up to November’s council elections.
You can find the newly released policy here.
*Not Greens endorsed. For the official Greens response, read the policy above.
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Felix Woldenberg
I think this sounds like very positive improvement upon the outrageous original proposal.
As with the 2am lockout, I strictly oppose all the forms of renegade control that are being proposed by people in parliament. Nameably breathalysers inside venues and ID scanners.. why are all the laws proposed by government akin to dictatorship? Akin to mass control that has nothing to do with the violence, and would infact fuel more public anger and outrage (and rightfully so).
More police presence is the answer, as there is presently not enough. Police do not have to start hassling people and taking away civil liberties in order to properly police the CBD. Police only need to patrol, and bring a friendly presence that promotes a safe and vibrant community, rather than a suppressed community.
Of course, police need to deal with any real threat that arises, but they do not need to go around bothering people with ID checks and silly bureaucratic laws that serve no great purpose but getting in the way of the community’s freedom to roam as they please without being tracked by big brother, when they haven’t even done anything wrong.
All the genuine people should not have to pay for the insolence of the relative few that act irresponsibly in our community. Infact, the genuine people can be ‘employed’ (not financially) to bring about further reform in the community, in the manner of friendly cooperative initiatives like neighborhood watch. Helping facilitate ways that people can call a 1800 number quickly to repost suspicious activities that put other innocent citizens at risk.
Please stop infringing our rights by trying to bring in these laws that are nothing but a thorn in the side of the majority of well-meaning people who value their freedom and anonymity when they go out at night.
Is there a human listening to me/reading this? Or am I simply one of many who gets given an “auto response”?
This government is out of control with rampant corporate control that goes unchallenged. It’s a shame to our nation. Stop introducing laws that promote industrial control of the people, and start introducing opportunities for people to participate in, in order to bring about positive change. You might be surprised how many people respond to an opportunity that can bring about real results, instead of the many petitions we sign that almost always go unread at the top.
If a human has read this and is still reading it, just know that many, many people feel this way too. Thank you for your time.
Felix Woldenberg
Jul 15th, 2008
Alister
Hi Felix,
I can assure you that we’re reading every comment we get, even though it’s early days in the campaign.
Jul 15th, 2008
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