Letters – issue 1046

Letters – issue 1046

MIDNIGHT FARCE

The City of Sydney is not shutting down Sydney’s nightlife at midnight. Well run night time venues are a welcome part of Sydney’s diversity and cultural life.

There are venues that operate all night. Central Sydney has the greatest concentration of 24-hour premises in NSW and this will not change.

Three years ago we created a late night trading premises Development Control Plan (DCP) to try to better manage premises such as those where violent, anti-social behaviour resulted in attacks on fellow customers, fights spilling onto the streets, and where police and paramedics were continually being called.

Under the DCP, many venues have the option to operate until 3am, 5am or 24 hours—and good operators need not fear their hours will be restricted.

However, extended trading hours are approved based on an ongoing commitment to good management and safety — but are not an absolute right.

This DCP provides an incentive for operators to manage their premises in a safe and responsible manner. It also only applies to new venues and premises substantially modifying their operations.

The negative campaign being run in the media misrepresents the truth that the minor and technical amendments to the DCP proposed do not include any new time restrictions.

A successful late night economy is good for the health of our overall economy, but at the same time we want people to enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

— Suzie Matthews

Manager Late Night Economy

City of Sydney

MEN-ONLY

I read the responses to Cath’s letter and it seems they ignore persistent demands by gay men for a male-only space at dances.

When I rang the Anti-Discrimination enquiry line the person said she knew of men who had successfully been granted exemption from discrimination law to hold male-only cultural events.

Has New Mardi Gras made this request on our behalf? If not, why not?

— Anton

NATIONAL INTEREST

I found your negative story on venue owners donating money to have lunch with the opposition Liquor and Gaming spokesman George Souris quite outstanding.

It is our democratic right in this country to vote and donate money to whoever we wish. Everybody knows the NSW Keneally Labor Government will be history come the election in March 2011.

It is important for all business people from all backgrounds to know and meet with the incoming ministers. If it costs money then so be it.

You and many members of the gay community are so way out of touch with the National Party, you should do better research or come to terms with the modern National Party of today, not yesterday.

They are far from homophobic. In fact they have a high level of gay staff which blows away your homophobic assumptions.

Many Liberal and National party members supported the gay adoption bill. Maybe you should Google Member for Orange Russell Turner and you might learn something.

There are two gay Liberals running for the election in 2011 in the eastern suburbs, one against the out of touch Clover Moore and the other against a Paul Pearce in Coogee. Shock horror, will you support these candidates because they are gay, or no because they are Liberals?

If these venues donated money to the Labor Party or the Greens you probably would not even made a story out of it because it would have suited your left-wing agenda.

And for the record, the luncheon was about fighting for better rights at gay venues, stupid 2am lockouts, safer streets and a long list of other issues that involve the gay entertainment precincts. Just because gay marriage was not on the agenda does not mean it was not a productive luncheon for venue owners to better prepare for a new government that does not support midnight closings for venues in Sydney. Somehow gay marriage has nothing to do with that.

And as for Greens MLC Dr John Kaye, keep him up on his soapbox because nobody is listening. And as for the Keneally Labor Party, they have a closed door for all businesses.

— Marcus

HYPOCRISY

What a world we live in. Julia Gillard is happy to ‘live in sin’ with her partner at the Lodge, but she doesn’t want lesbians and gays to get married.

Hypocrisy doesn’t become you, Julia.

— Garry

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3 responses to “Letters – issue 1046”

  1. It does seem that Clover and the City Council wants to close all late night venues. What else can explain the following from their latest policy?

    “They are introducing what they call reviewable conditions … and check section 2.9 of their new policy …. that means “A development consent that is granted subject to a reviewable condition can be reviewed at any time … or multiple times …'” to respond to (Section 2.7) “such things as changes in the late night character of a neighbourhood or changes in management” … or actually for any reason Council choose, whenever Council chooses, and as often as they choose ….”

    Found this on n anti website. I went and read the policy myself and it is correct.

  2. The Nationals will be part of the government in four months time so it is only common sense that we establish our credentials with them as soon as possible. Labor and The Greens will be sent packing to the holding paddock while the experts try and repair the damage done to NSW over the past few years. I only hope the SSO won’t become a wailing wall for sore loser lefties during this period and that readers will be able to get unbiased news about the new government and their dealings with our community.

  3. Anton, the answer to your question is pretty much as follows:

    Men-only spaces at dance parties tend to become men-only sex spaces at dance parties.

    Sadly, Fox – and NSW licensing law – won’t tolerate sex spaces in the Entertainment Quarter.