Below is footage from the protest on Friday in Melbourne against the Victorian state government's 2am curfew proposals. The "lockout", which will be a 1/4 year trial to begin with, essentially means that "nobody may enter a licensed premises after 2am even if you have already been inside that venue. Exemptions include pokies littered RSL’s, Crown Casino and Bottle shops." These new laws have the potential to impact upon the city's thriving small bar and music scene, at a time when other cities are trying to emulate the vibrant night life and culture that Melbourne has built over many years.
Full details of the protest and the new laws are available here. It seems that more venues are winning exemption from the trial but the picture is still looking grim. The Age has more details and latest updates today:
"Fifty-three venues have already been granted a stay from the lockout by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after agreeing to conditions set down by the Director of Liquor Licensing.
The conditions included extra security, no passouts, and no promotion of opening hours after 2am. Twenty-seven more venues today joined the legal fight against the Government's three-month ban that applies to the Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra and Stonnington council areas. "
No passouts? What is this Blue Light Disco circa '86? And who's to say the venues and clubs applying today for exemption aren't the same places where the troublemakers usually drink and fight. Der!
Anyway, the video below made me so proud of Melbournians willing to come out and fight for their right to party (sensibly).
There's also a very big discussion about this on Mess and Noise.
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