Protests hit the web

Protests hit the web

Online forums protesting lock-out laws are becoming increasingly popular, but reports last week that at least one of these sites is funded by the Australian Hotels Association have raised concerns that the gay community is being targeted with propaganda.

Facebook now boasts at least half a dozen anti-2am lock-out groups, including one specifically devoted to the Oxford St area, Petition against the Oxford St 2am lock-out, which currently has 231 members.

The dontpunishus.com.au affiliated Facebook group, with 14,300 members, is the largest online group.

Started as a website in its own right a month after the introduction of lock-out laws the site, which had promoted itself as a grassroots movement, was last week found to have been started and funded by members of the Australian Hotels Association.

In light of this, community member James Fry objected to the site’s attempt to rally the gay community in a blog piece labelling the laws as discriminatory.

The thing that’s gotten to me is the underhanded tactics the AHA have been pulling in to dupe not only the gay community but the people who enjoy the Sydney nightlife as a whole, Fry said.

The AHA have a legitimate right to voice their interests and oppositions, as does anyone in this country but to mask their objection as a grassroots or gay and lesbian rights issue, and to use terms like -˜draconian measures’ and -˜the end of Sydney nightlife’, when really it’s about them protecting their bottom line, that’s when it gets to me.

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5 responses to “Protests hit the web”

  1. David, why would managers close their business earlier than they had to? Do you really think that pub$ are in it for the community?

  2. why lockout a club? If the government doesnt want people getting drunk after 2am, wouldn’t it be nicer to close only the bar but leave the club (music and dancefloor) open. It would create less tension around the state, especially to the people who at least wish to go to a club and dance our asses off after 2am. It would at least make me happy…

  3. I’d go even further.
    Close all privately owned pubs and clubs, leaving only community based registered clubs (RSL, Workers, Leagues, Bowling, Tennis etc)with the trading hours of midday to midnight.
    I’d also ban ALL bottleshops and impose taxes which would at least triple the price of alcohol.
    This way people who drink and those who sell it can pay for the mess and destruction they cause to society.

  4. It would have been better to have a law that required ALL pubs and clubs to be closed by 2am regardless. That way the accusation of ‘discrimination’ could be avoided. And there would be nothing to stop pubs and clubs closing at 12am or 10pm if the managers so choose.

    Don’t forget also that the above proposal would not prevent people enjoying alcoholism in their own homes where they can throw up and pass out if they so wish.