MelbourneLockedOut.com

Tomorrow evening at 6pm we have a meeting organised with Ted Baillieu (Opposition Leader), Michael O'Brien (Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs), & Clem Newton-Brown (Prahan Liberal Candidate). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss current Liquor Licensing issues (licence price increases, forcing crowd controller conditions on small venues, forcing small businesses to close due to failing to make decisions on new licences/variations, and many more). These issues affect venues in every aspect of the industry - licenced cafes, restaurants, bars, bottleshops, etc - so it is vital that licencees, operators, owners, managers, and staff from every part of the industry attends so that your voice can be heard. 6pm - 7pm

Friday April 9th
CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL
12 Little Chapel St, Prahran
Please take the time to be there - this is critical to our industry and our jobs. Forward this on to anyone else this will affect.

If you would like to submit anything we will be handing an overview to Ted, Clem and Michael at the meeting http://bit.ly/melblic

A Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will introduce tough new offences relating to anti-social behaviour at or near licensed premises as well as higher penalties for failing to leave licensed premises when drunk, violent or quarrelsome.

“As part of our suite of policy reforms in this area, we will introduce two new offences that specifically target sources of violent and aggressive behaviour around licensed venues,” Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu said.

“Being denied entry to a venue or being required to leave is no excuse for violent and aggressive behaviour,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Police and venue operators say that many incidences of aggression on the street stem from people who have been refused entry to or removed from licensed premises engaging in violent and aggressive behaviour in the immediate vicinity.

“A Coalition Government will not tolerate a mindless few threatening the safety of the responsible majority. We will take tough action against individuals who behave irresponsibly with these new laws and increased penalties,” Mr Baillieu said.

• introduce a new offence of remaining in the immediate vicinity of a licensed premises which an individual has been refused entry to or ejected from;

• introduce a new offence of re-entering a licensed premises within 24 hours of being refused entry to, or ejected from, the premises; and

• increase penalties by 150 per cent for failing to obey a direction to leave licensed premises when drunk, violent or quarrelsome.

These announcements follow the Coalition’s pledge to ban violent offenders from licensed premises for two years where alcohol is found to have been a contributing factor to their actions, and the introduction of a demerit points liquor licensing system that will lead to instant liquor licence suspensions for repeat offenders.

“The Brumby Government’s failure to deal with violence in and around licensed venues has created an environment of fear for many Victorians,” Mr Baillieu said.

“The Coalition recognises that responsibility is a two-way street. Liquor licensees need to obey the law, but so do patrons. The Coalition understands the importance of individual responsibility in liquor licensing laws.”

1. Loitering in vicinity after being refused entry or being required to leave

Aggressive behaviour from people who have been refused entry to licensed premises is a significant cause of violent and aggressive incidents. Currently, there is no specific law dealing with such behaviour.

Being refused admission to, or ejected from, a licensed venue does not provide an excuse for violent, aggressive or threatening behaviour in the vicinity of the premises.

A Coalition Government will introduce a new offence, which makes it illegal for a person to remain on the footpath or area adjacent to licensed premises where the person has been refused entry to, or required to leave, the premises. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, with an infringement notice carrying a penalty of 5 penalty units ($584.10).

Labor’s liquor laws have a loophole which means that a person removed from a premises by a licensee can attempt to re-enter the premises without consequence.

Many licensees have had the experience of requiring a person to leave their premises because they have become drunk or aggressive, only to find that the person has re-entered the premises later in the evening.

A Coalition Government will introduce a new offence, which makes it illegal for a person who has been required to leave a premises under s.114(2) to re-enter that premises within 24 hours. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, with an infringement notice carrying a penalty of 5 penalty units ($584.10).

Increased penalties for failing to leave a licensed premises if drunk, violent or quarrelsome

Liquor licensees face tough penalties if they have drunk people on their premises. However, the on-the-spot fines for individuals who refuse to leave licensed premises when required to do so are relatively small, sending a mixed message.

Licensees who do the right thing by ordering drunk, violent or quarrelsome patrons from their venues should be backed by appropriately tough sanctions if they are ignored.

An infringement notice for breaching s.114(2) of the Liquor Control Reform Act presently carries a penalty of 2 penalty units ($233.64 at current rates). A Coalition Government will increase the penalty incurred under an infringement notice for a breach of this provision by 150 per cent to 5 penalty units ($584.10).

Bands and fans set to rock Spring Street

MELISSA FYFE

February 7, 2010

IF JOHN Brumby happens to peer out of Parliament House on the last Tuesday of this month, he may witness one of the most unusual, loudest - and politically potent - protests of his time as Premier.

And right now his office and ministers are doing all they can to neutralise the anger driving this snowballing protest movement.

If everything goes to plan, on February 23 a flat-bed truck will move up Bourke Street towards Parliament House followed by thousands of musicians and fans protesting the government's liquor licensing crackdown. On top of this truck, the RocKwiz orchestra will play Long Way to the Top , just as AC/DC did when they recorded their video clip for the song along Flinders Street in 1976.

The Premier's office has become increasingly concerned about the rally and the political damage the liquor licensing issue may cause the Government - especially in inner-city seats vulnerable to the Greens. Organisers of the Save Live Australia's Music (SLAM) now include a coalition of high-profile Melbourne musicians such as Clare Bowditch, Spiderbait's 'Kram' and Cat Empire, to record labels, bar owners, community radio, recording studios and Liberty Victoria.

On Wednesday, Mr Brumby's office has invited several music industry figures for a round-table lunch, along with Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson, local member for Richmond Richard Wynne, Arts Minister Peter Batchelor and Director of Liquor Licensing Sue Maclellan.

The Sunday Age believes that tour promoter Michael Gudinski, Atlantis Sound's Dave McCluney, musician Dave Graney, and Espy booker and musician Roderick Kempton, aka Wally Meanie, have been invited so far. Quincy McLean and Helen Marcou, organisers of the rally - who have enlisted some of the original troupe of bag pipe players in the AC/DC clip to join Rockwiz's Brian Nankervis on the truck - have been asked for a list of demands by the state government in a bid to come to a compromise.

But Ms Marcou said the protest has grown to from the closure of the Tote to encompass ''all sorts of grievances and complaints that have been building up'', including the lack of funding for Melbourne's musicians.

In under 48 hours, more than 3,000 people have signed up to a Facebook site, pledging to attend. Ms Marcou said the message to the Government was clear: the musicians want live music venues to be decoupled from the high-risk licensing conditions that require extra door security. This, she said, was sending small live venues in Melbourne to the wall.

''This is just the beginning of the campaign unless there is a satisfactory outcome … [there will be] concerts, leafletting and supporting pro-music candidates.''

Musician Dave Graney, who will attend the round-table on Wednesday, said the issue had galvanised the music community like never before. ''Musicians are mostly isolated and now they are being forced to come out of the darkness.''In a strange turn of events, the Liberal Party has become the heroes of the Melbourne music scene after the party tried to pass an motion supporting the industry last week. Labor voted against the motion and - to the surprise of those in the music industry - so did the Greens.

Roderick Kempton says that he hopes to find a way to work with the government: ''It ain't rocket surgery, throw us a frickin' bone.''

http://slamrally.org

CHAOS BREAKS OUT IN LIQUOR LICENSING
· SPIN MACHINE BREAKS DOWN AS PREMIER ADMITS MINISTERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON
· BRUMBY ANNOUNCES SECOND INQUIRY INTO SAME ISSUE

Chaos has broken out within the Brumby Government over liquor licensing as the Premier admits the Minister for Planning has no idea what is going in his own department, Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu said today.

In an attempt to limit the damage on ABC Radio this morning Premier Brumby sought to blame VCAT and then had no answer when it was pointed out that VCAT was simply implementing government policy.

When confronted with the fact that the Minister for Planning has no idea what is going on inside his portfolio, the Premier could only respond with ‘that’s an issue, Jon’.

“Posturing by the Premier on liquor licensing and alcohol-fuelled violence has been revealed as meaningless with two new giant alcohol barns approved to open in Melbourne,” Mr Baillieu said.

Things became even worse when the Premier announced that his solution would be to review the arrangements under which VCAT makes decisions about liquor licensing

But in a later press conference it appeared the Premier was unaware that an inquiry into VCAT's decision-making process is already underway.

Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell is in the final stages of reviewing VCAT and is soon to hand a report to the Attorney-General.

The review has heard submissions from alcohol and drug policy groups who have echoed Coalition policy positions that the community is not being adequately listened to in decision-making on liquor licensing and the increasing number of liquor outlets is directly corresponding to an increase in violence.

John Brumby had no answer when asked why he would conduct another review when the current one was yet to even report back.

The Coalition recently announced that it would legislate to guarantee communities have control over packaged liquor sales and licences in their areas.

“This decision is not just a decision about yet another bar. It’s a decision about this government’s real values – and its blindness when it comes to the causes of alcohol-fuelled violence,” Mr Baillieu said.

“John Brumby talks empty rhetoric on alcohol-fuelled violence and when it comes to the hard stuff he shuffles off and leaves one of his junior Ministers to take the rap. He hopes people will be fooled by endless empty words.

“I believe community safety and community input must come first – John Brumby obviously doesn’t.

It's no wonder things are not getting better and violent crime has increased to record levels in Victoria,” Mr Baillieu said.

Hi All

I thought it wise to send you a note regarding a recent change to licensing and live music regulations that has slipped a little under the radar in the last month. I'd love it if you could spend a couple of minutes reading about this situation and lend your support to the cause.

It's come to my attention thanks to Pure Pop Records (St Kilda) and a letter from 3RRR Stalwart Johnnie Von Goes, that a recent change in liquor licensing laws in Victoria has become a genuine threat to live music in this city. Of course it seems that a threat to live music in Melbourne arises every couple of years. 3am Lockouts and gentrification of our glorious inner suburbs cause a reasonable amount of media hooplah but it's certainly worrying that these latest changes are happening with barely a whimper.

In the past few weeks small pubs and licensed premises around town have had visits from Consumer Affairs in attempt to curb alcohol related violence.

These pubs have been told they must provide security guards if they are going have live music...

Any sort of live music...
Any size crowd...

A security guard gets paid around $250 per shift. Bands in small pubs these days don't get much more than a rider and a meal. It's not hard to do the maths. At least one pub has already stopped hosting live music and it seems a matter of time before a whole lot more will be forced to follow suit.

This problem extends further. A Bazooki player in your local Greek tavern will require the venue to hire security. That means we'll need a security guard to watch over 4 families eating the mixed grill and greek salad. Blues at The Rainbow Hotel to 15 people on a Tuesday night will require security. We're talking jazz, rock, punk, afrobeat, dub, reggae, lounge, abstract pointilism, folk and classical music. We're talking open mic nights in front of friends and family. These places don't attract violence or large crowds. Although we agree there is a need to stamp out alcohol fueled violence, taken to this level, it's ridiculous. Clearly there's a need within the policy to differentiate between large venues with the potential for violence and small venues that will be adversely and unfairly affected by these regulations.

So, you get the picture. The healthy cultural life of a city requires grass roots artists to be embraced and nurtured. The real possibility of small venues losing live music forever will impact the development of emerging artists as well as those playing niche and culturally diverse genres. The effect will be felt throughout the music community.

In Johnny's Von Goes' words:
"It seems that this is an ill-conceived solution to a non-existent problem, it's an act of throwing the baby out with the bath water... I did not write the letter that is attached to this email, because I can't write these sorts of letters. A very clever person with an academic, legal mind wrote it. And I thank her very much."

So, read the below letter (it's very reasonably worded), cut and paste it, or attach it to an email with your name at the bottom and send it to liquorregulationsris@justice.vic.gov.au by close of business today (that's Friday 18th September)

Please feel free to forward this email to other interested parties.

Cheers and thanks for your time.

Sarah Purches

Liquor Control Reform Regulations 2009 RIS
Responsible Alcohol Victoria
GPO Box 4304
Melbourne VIC 3001
liquorregulationsris@justice.vic.gov.au

Submission

1. Introduction

1.1 The Liquor Control Reform Regulations, Regulatory Impact Statement, is a large document therefore this submission will not be addressing every issue raised in the Statement but will instead focus on a number of issues of concern in inner city live music venues. The Government is to be lauded for its attempt to address the issue of alcohol related harm. Clearly this is an issue that the public has expressed concern about and government must respond. However in its response the government must ensure that the law is proportionate to its intended purpose and does not unduly impact on small local venues to the detriment of the cultural life of the local community.
2. Identifying risk factors

2.1 The Statement identifies a number of risk factors including the following:

• operating hours,
• compliance history,
• venue type - whether it is a bar, nightclub or pub
• crowding
• location; and
• noise

It is right that the government consider such factors but the Statement also points out that ‘risk factors need to be substantiated by a sound evidence base and rationale’ (page 17). It is to this factor that we wish to address our submission. In doing so, we also wish to stress that as well as having an evidence based approach, that any resulting laws or regulations must be nuanced sufficiently to provide maximum protection against alcohol related violence BUT also needs to ensure that small venues - which have no record of violent or drunken behaviour - are not overly burdened with high compliance costs that it affects their ongoing business viability. Indeed, financial viability is recognised as a concern in the Statement itself. For example, Chapter 6, 6.1 states that it is important to acknowledge that ‘the survival rate of businesses in the industry is comparatively low, and …. some businesses may be only marginally profitable’ (page 43). This is particularly important in the context of small local venues.

2.2 In addition to the requirement for ‘sound evidence’ and the necessity to recognise small venues as quite distinct from large venues, the Regulatory Authority needs to also consider the role that smaller venues play in the local community. These small venues have provided local people with quality live music for decades. In many inner city suburbs grass roots music thrives much to the delight of local residents. These venues are supported by local residents who frequent them and are not loud venues that are the subject of local complaints.
2.3 However over the past month, in an attempt to reduce alcohol related violence in the city region inspectors have begun to enforce a very unnecessary regulation on these small local venues outside the CBD venues. In recent weeks small venues have been told that security guards must be employed at any pub where live music is being played. Clearly security is necessary at large venues but applying the same requirement to these small venues that have no history of violence is not ‘a sound evidence base’ for enforcing the requirement. Unless there is such evidence then security is not necessary at small venues.

2.4 Responding to the second issue namely the financial viability of these small venues also illustrates the inappropriateness of the requirement for bouncers. Take for example, those small pubs who have been putting on Sunday afternoon music events for years for crowds of around 40 people or so where no violence has ever occurred, and the majority of the crowd over 35 years old. They will now need to employ a security guard. The profit margins are low here. The pubs are only able to pay bands around $300 dollars per session. A security guard will cost $250. If a security guard is required at all entrances this amount can be doubled. In addition, these venues close at the latest by 1am, with the music finishing by 12.30. These are not large, loud nightclub venues.
2.5 The consequence of this requirement has been that a number of local venues in the North Fitzroy/East Brunswick area have already cancelled their resident bands. In one case, a band had been playing on a weekly basis for 4 years has lost in employment. That residency has now been cancelled and may have a flow-on effect in terms of reducing bar and kitchen staff. Other small venues that cannot afford to pay a local band as well as security staff have also been forced to cancel their musicians, again resulting in less patronage, which in turn requires less staff. This surely cannot have been the purpose of the law.

3. Recommendations and conclusion

3.1 The need to curb alcohol related violence in Melbourne is clear. However to punish those who add to the vibrant Melbourne arts community is simply bad law, ill-conceived and a poorly thought out response. The law or regulation needs to be re-examined. Laws must be proportionate to the ends they seek to achieve. Laws that aim to curb violence and drunkenness in big venues need to be targeted towards those venues. A blanket requirement aimed at any venue that has live music fails to acknowledge or consider the following issues the difference in size of the venues and the risks stemming from different crowd capacity. It also illustrates an ignorance of the different types of venues and the patrons that frequent them. It is not law based on ‘sound evidence’. Furthermore, rather than facilitating local culture and arts it undermines the development of them.
3.2 We recommend that the Regulatory Authority develop better targeted laws proportionate to their ends, and sufficiently flexible to allow adaptation to comply with the needs of different venues, crowd capacity and community needs.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics report Recorded Crime Victims, Australia 2008 released yesterday has again confirmed Victoria remains the safest state in Australia.

Police Minister Bob Cameron said the data was the result of the hard work of police and a decade of record investment into the force by the Brumby Labor Government.

“This year’s State Budget has also delivered a record $1.9 billion budget for Victoria Police highlighting our commitment protecting Victorian communities and property,” Mr Cameron said.

“Since 2000-01 Victoria’s crime rate has been reduced by 24.5 per cent and today’s report again shows Victoria remains the safest state in Australia – with the lowest rate of crimes against the person of any state.”

Mr Cameron said the report also showed over the last 12 months Victoria’s assault victimisation rate fell 4.9 per cent.

“Since 2000 Victoria’s victimisation rate for homicide fell 22.1 per cent, robbery fell 13.5 per cent, burglary fell 44 per cent, motor vehicle theft dropped by 61.1 per cent and other theft fell by 25.3 per cent,” Mr Cameron said.

“The Brumby Government is committed to protecting our communities, which is why we will deliver an extra 350 police this term – on top of the additional 1400 we have delivered since 1999.”

Press release: Liquor Reform Amendment Bill

After Monday's announcement that lockouts were found to increase violence, it came as a shock to everyone in our
organisation that the Liquor Reform Amendment bill was not being withdrawn.

The KPMG report has proven beyond any doubt that lockouts in Melbourne do not decrease violent assaults, and in
fact the report found that they increase them.

The Liquor Reform Amendment Bill will give the Director of Liquor Licensing the power to put in a lockout at her
will, without consultation, right of appeal or the requirement of evidence to back up her claim across the whole of
Victoria.

This is a draconian measure that will result in the gap between the government and small business increasing.

Why if lockouts have been found to increase violent assaults, would they be put forward as a tool for the Director of
Liquor Licensing to have at her disposal.

We agree that venues that do not adhere to the strict provisions placed on them should be shut down for the safety
of the patrons.
We do not agree that hired thugs in the form of bureaucrats should be put in positions above the law or out of the
jurisdictions of the court systems.

This bill will be heavily apposed by MelbourneLockedOut and all our factions and we heavily support the Liberal
National Coalition in debating and opposing the bill.

Also being announced are the fast tracking of extra police resources! Better late than never.

Yesterday The Hon Tony Robinson read out a liquor control reform amendment bill.

Contained within the bill were measures to reduce the rights of Victorians to appeal state government decisions.

It is our belief that the Brumby government is intent on bringing in a statewide lockout, and is slowly making

Last week The City of Melbourne hosted a nightlife safety summit with 85 key experts.

Not one expert from the summit recommended a lockout, or any measure similar to a lockout as an effective way to

What solutions were highly recommended fell under Education, Police and Transport.

The three key issues that our group has been campaigning for since it's inception.

tyle="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde';">This lockout if it occurs will be known as 'Brumby's lockout'.

It will become a key issue at the next election, an issue that will only bring the Labor party closer to alienating

We will be hosting a free concert / protest in Sidney Myer Music Bowl aptly named MakeBrumbyHistory.

At this concert will be some of Australia's greatest living musicians from multiple genres and generations.

Some of Melbourne's most high profile concert promoters, bands and celebrities have already pledged their support.

It will involve every protest group that is out there at the moment and the many more who are surely to come.

on Friday the 3rd of October MelbourneLockedOut attended the Melbourne City Coucil Summit on nightlife safety.

Hosted by The Hon John So the summit explored the issues and came up with solutions to the growing popularity of Melbourne's nightlife.

The summary of the meeting was that we need greater police presence, more transport and more education.

It was interesting to note that at no point was the idea of a lockout or any such measure introduced out of the hundred ideas put on the table.

Melbourne Locked Out has been continuously requesting meetings with Premier John Brumby in regard to the 2am lockout.

So far there has been no response from Mr Brumby or his office which goes against his latest claim that he wants to consult with the public.

This can only be regarded as a complete lack of willingness to consult or communicate with the public in regard to nightlife safety.

Further more Melbourne Locked Out has 15,000 signed petitions stating that we on behalf of the Melbourne public demand to be included in any consultation.

The government has at this point no regard for our views on the lockout and other measures, and are failing to regard our organisation or the public as stakeholders.

The controversial 2am lockout from Melbourne bars and clubs is to be abandoned indefinitely.

A three-month trial of the ban will end on Tuesday and the Brumby Government has no plans to extend the strategy.

The Government introduced the lockout in June to stamp out alcohol-fuelled violence on the city's streets.

But, with the spring and summer party seasons approaching, the Government yesterday confirmed it had no plans to continue the lockout.

A decision on whether to retain or scrap the policy may not be made until the end of the year.

A review of the trial will be conducted by Liquor Licensing Victoria in consultation with police, local councils and licensees.

Under the lockout, patrons are banned from entering more than 487 inner-city venues after 2am.

The Government's decision not to extend the ban means licensed venues can resume admitting drinkers as late as their licence allows.

Government spokeswoman Emma Diffen said no deadline had been set on whether another lockout would be introduced.

A government statement said: "The current lockout trial will cease at the start of September.

"The temporary lockout will cease before any future ongoing arrangements are put in place."

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu accused the Government of poor planning by dumping the trial on the eve of one of Melbourne's most busy social periods, with AFL finals and the Spring Racing Carnival just around the corner.

"This has been a stuff-up from the start," he said. "It could have been a useful tool, but they didn't consult.

"This is the problem with the 2am lockout - we will never know if the concept could have worked because John Brumby completely botched the implementation of the trial."

Lockouts under fire

MELBOURNE'S 2am lockout has been marred by police figures revealing a sharp increase in the number of assaults during its first month.

Liquor Licensing Victoria introduced the three-month trial lockout at the start of June to try to reverse a growing trend of violence around the city's nightlife scene.

But licensees have labelled the trial a disaster, with Victoria Police figures obtained by the Leader showing a rise in the number of assaults in June compared with the corresponding period last year. Reported assaults in the City of Melbourne City rose by 18 per cent to 211 for the month while property damage reports jumped 26 per cent to 164.

Police refused to release statistics for this month and last, saying they would not be made public until next year.

The increased violence comes despite the Safe Streets Taskforce pouring an extra 50 uniformed police on to the city's streets since October last year.

But Association of Liquor Licensing Melbourne secretary Brian Frewin said the figures were "damning evidence" that the lockout had failed.

"One of our biggest fears when opposing the lockout was that if you stop people from entering nightclubs or bars, then it's going to engender some violence," Mr Frewin said.

He said the lockout had only succeeded in reducing city businesses' profits. "It's not just licensed venues saying it has damaged business," Mr Frewin said.

"We've had non-licensed businesses like McDonalds and Hungry Jacks complain that they are losing up to half of their normal night time trade as well."

The trial will finish next Tuesday (September 2) but Mr Frewin called on Liquor Licensing Victoria director Sue Maclellan to scrap it immediately.

The liquor licensing watchdog refused to rule out introducing the scheme permanently when contacted by the Leader two weeks ago, regardless of whether figures emerged showing it failed to reduce violence.

A spokeswoman for Ms Maclellan said claims that the trial had failed were premature.

"The director of liquor licensing does not think it is appropriate to comment on the success or otherwise of the temporary lockout until the lockout has concluded and been evaluated," the spokeswoman said.

She said the evaluation would look at police figures as well as feedback from councils and licensees.

The ALLM (Association of Liquor Licensees Melbourne) have announced that they have lost faith in Sue Maclellan's leadership as Director of Liquor licensing Victoria.

This was sad day in the history of Victoria.
We have a Government that is so comfortable in office that they believe they can rule with an iron fist.
John Brumby's 3am lockout "compromise" will be a disaster for the Labor party.
There is not one shred of proof that Lockouts work.
There is not one dollar being put into school education on safe socialisation as put forward by us in our Safe Night Out scheme.
The people are angry and rest assured the current government is in for a shock.
We have a large number of signed petitions against the lockout and we will be presenting them to Parliament shortly.
We will be marching and we will continue to march on Parliament House and thru the CBD for as long as it takes.
Each time we will be creating more noise and more negative attention to the Brumby Lockout.
There will be a concert/protest held at the end of the year called Make Brumby History and it will be backed by any number of world famous artists such as Jet & Evermore
We will not go away and we will only gain momentum.
It is very important that you email the politicians from your electorate NOW
We will need everybody's help with this next battle.

Who we are?
MelbourneLockedOut.com is a pressure group formed by the public in protest against the harmful 2am lockout policy. We are calling on public and media scrutiny of the proposed 1/4 year trial and demanding a postponement of the trial pending a full investigation by an independent committee.

What we are doing?
We are pressuring the government into backing down over the curfew.

What we want?
We want the lockout to be cancelled. We want to sit down with the government, police and licensees as representatives of the public, and come up with real solutions rather than just another Band-aid Brumby policy.

What the lockout is?
The lockout is a declaration (act of martial law used during war times) that says that nobody may enter a licensed premises after 2am even if you have already been inside that venue. Exemptions include pokie and keno littered RSL’s, Crown Casino and Bottle shops.

We are putting together a fact booklet relating to this.
If you have received this directly from us then you will receive this as soon as we finish it. Otherwise please contact us to be put on our mailing list.
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