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CHANGE CITY :
Victorian Police have moved to act on all the negative attention focused recently on Melbourne’s nightlife, with the announcement that from today they will now have increased powers to shut down the city’s bars and nightclubs deemed to be “public safety threats” for 24 hours. The ‘Liquor Control Reform Amendment Act 2009’ has been introduced in response to a spate of alcohol-related violent incidents recently that received heavy coverage in the national media.
Victoria Police Superintendent Stephen Leane told ABC News that the new laws will only be wielded in extreme cases. “We hope that we never have to actually use these powers… We hope that managers and licensees are responsible and when we talk to them and outline the issues that they react. But the power does give us the capacity to direct that they close down,” Leane said, claming that saying the amendment will make it easier for police to act immediately against “rogue” venues.
In addition to pubs and clubs facing the prospect of a 24-hour shutdown, the Director of Liquor Licensing has also been given increased power to suspend liquor licenses.
beatfreakn says...
power to the people..
Lady Lex says...
Poor Melbourne!
trancejunkii says...
they need a 96 hour shutdown for revs
benii says...
"they need a 96 hour shutdown for revs" DONT SWEAR!!!
benii says...
i thought they would be able to do this anyway?
spice_of_life says...
fuck!
batersrant says...
Happened up in Newcastle about six years ago, a few were closed down for 72 hours related to supposed drug links, but one got a lockdown for overcrowding and anti-social behaviour. They had all these sanctions afterwards and it took the venue years to recover...
funkytom says...
so someone gets stabbed or something and the club gets shut down for 24hrs... like it wouldn't anyway? and this will make a difference how? as if violent people are going to care?
ANINIMITY says...
Welcome to the Fascist state - it was only a question of time! We as Australians have always enjoyed a certain quality of life and freedom and as such have never had a reason to complain - The time to complain is now ! This only the tip of the ice burg. Talk to most politicians and they will tell you you that in the interests of public safety some time you have to give up some freedom. Benjimin Franklin said "Any man who gives up his liberties for safety does not deserve either" Yes he's a dead yank but his is a valid point. Don't kid your self -Police and politicans are small minded and believe they have the RIGHT (and in some scary cases - the responsibility!)to destroy dance culture and if you don't tell your local MP that it's not on - they will.
Something_Good says...
Is this rule able to be applied instantaneously? Or would the shut down occur on say the following night for example? Because i hardly see how removing x hundred amount of drunken patrons from a crowd will benefit anybody or any situation. Yep lights on, music off, everyone out...well thought through...
ctoafn_DMZ says...
What a stupid pananoid comment 'ANINIMITY' - If there is a club doign stupid things and letting people get stupidly drunk, fight and ruin other peoples nights out, then shut the shit hole down. They are talking about shutting a place down which is infringing on the rights of others out to have a good night. ie Hello Gradma. Trying to walk past the 100 drunk tools looking to cause trouble who cant get in cause they are no qewaring clothes pink enough or have enough gel in their hair should not interfere with my rights to simply walk home or drive home when they line up in the middle of the road when I'm trying to drive past. If clubs owners are going to let their promoters advertise to douchebags like that, and make the huge amounts of drink sales, they have to be responsbile for what happens as an aftermath. If the cops have to shut them down, good luck to them.
ANINIMITY says...
Hair Gel ? Pink shirts? I'm not talking about petty prejudices - i'm talking about the bigger picture Myles. 2 year from now one of us is going to be eating their words. Hope it's me! I spent 5 years working in and running the biggest night clubs in the valley in Brisbane and it's rarely about harm reduction and always about being seen to be doing something. Remember that police don't make laws - they enforce them. Politicians create them. As long as there's alcohol and idiots you are always going to have problems. Will they be shutting down the MCG when it get's a bit out of hand? I doubt it.Clubs are soft targets. Your entitled to your opinion but - Paranoid ? I don't think so.
untitled-1 says...
wow ..its the end of the ozzie we all loved
humdingaling says...
we hope to never use it = it wont happen overnight but it will happen
baberz says...
5 years in clubs in the valley.....You would've seen your fair share of 'infringements'
ANINIMITY says...
Yeah but the only time we ever saw them get really serious was when there where TV cameras around and them they'd get the dogs out and arrest anyone with in sniffing distance. On one occasion they literally lined up 8 or nine people and had them hands against the wall like they'd been packing guns! Until the TV left. I'm not trying to upset anyone but this will happen because to a poli what the point of a new law if it doesn't make it onto the news? I gunna guess within 4 weeks. Hope I'm wrong.
RaverTaz says...
Victorian Police should be doing the right thing by standing in but only to help not close the club for 24hours as they should think about where people go if they shut down the club what out onto the streets so Melbourne has Drug-related violent incidents happen on our streets next.