Victorian 2am lockout protest
It’s fun to go to a protest where there are signs that urge people to “SAY NO TO THE NANNY STATE”. A less convincing sign that was displayed at last night’s protest against Victoria’s new 2am lockout was one that pictorially argued that Saddam Hussein = John Brumby, implying that the former Iraqi dictator was, in fact, a better than average Labor premier.
Crappy phone camera shot: crowd gathers at Treasury Gardens at about 5:30pm.
There was a degree of success yesterday before the protest: some forty-seven licencees were granted temporary exemptions to the 2am rule. However, they had to agree to some fairly onerous extra regulations, such as doubling their security, and agreeing not to advertise or promote the fact that they were open for new customers after 2am. This could provide a compromise position for the licencees and government to agree on, but the government has indicated that it wants to push on with the lockout regardless.
Brumby is playing up the effect drunken violence has on ruining lives. Sure, but there doesn’t seem to be much evidence to suggest that a lockout is the correct policy solution. Three people were stabbed in brawls in the city last night. But conspiciously, they were stabbed before midnight – a 2am lockout would have no effect on this incident. It’s hard not to agree with another placard held up last night: “POLICE NOT POLICY”
My IPA colleague, Tim Wilson in the centre of the photo whips up the crowd with his blue megaphone. When he told a reporter that he was from the Institute of Public Affairs, the reporter was pretty confused.
The media has reported about 3000 people turned up to the protest – that seems about right to me, but I’m hardly a protest veteran. Having marched to the Victorian parliament (30 minutes before the organisers actually wanted them to) the speeches when we got there were unfortunately a bit lacklustre. One speaker, a Greens candidate for (I presume) the Gippsland byelection made the strange decision to focus his five minute speech on windfarms and carbon emissions, rather than liquour licences.
Outside the Victorian Parliament.
Members of the Socialist Party were handing out flyers when we turned up that maintained that the key issue with the lockout was war, racism and capitalism. Most of my IPA colleagues were smart enough not to take one – I absentmindedly accepted the flyer because I was distracted looking to get a NO 2AM badge. No dice, unfortunately.
But for the most part, the protest did well to keep on message. I don’t think the vast majority of those who attended were otherwise politically-minded – the idea of a late-night lockout offends a lot of people who hold no strong views on baby bonuses, FuelWatch and infrastructure spending. It would be great if more of these people could become activated in a libertarian direction, but I’m sadly skeptical.
Certainly the Liberal Party missed the opportunity to push an anti-Brumby message – imposing a late-night lockout was, embarrassingly, a key Liberal policy for the last election. Still, the chance to take sides with both partiers (by opposing the lockout) and law-and-order folks (by demanding more police on the streets) against the Labor government was depressingly, and, to my mind foolishly, discarded.
The protest was worth it, but it was hardly a massive blow for liberty – the issue now rests with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Crossposted at www.chrisberg.org.
The LDP Contests Gippsland By-Election
This is an appeal for support by LDP Treasurer, David Leyonhjelm.
Australia’s only libertarian political party, the LDP, has nominated a candidate in the Gippsland by-election on 28 June 2008.
The candidate is well known local identity Ben Buckley. Ben is a libertarian based on first principles. To him it is obvious that Australians pay far too much tax and Governments are too authoritarian and intrusive. However, he has never previously been involved in libertarian politics. For many years Ben was co-owner and Chief Pilot of Alpine Aviation, involved in crop dusting plus emergency Medivacs and mercy flights. At 71, he is still involved in the provision of fire spotting services and general aviation.
Ben’s early years were spent in contract deer culling in New Zealand, where he also learnt to fly. His fame and skill as a pilot spread and one of Ben’s major achievements was flying an ultra-light aircraft from Australia to New Zealand. Ben’s adventures and anecdotes around his flying, disputes with Aviation Department bureaucracy and community activities are contained in the book ‘Buckley’s Chance”, published in 1998.
Ben has always been a staunch supporter of the timber industry as well as pushing for better access to the bush by four-wheel drivers and hunters. His passion for community issues led him to enter local government and he is now in his second term as a Councillor with East Gippsland Shire Council. Prior to its amalgamation he spent 12 years as a Councillor with Omeo Shire, including one term as President.
Ben has a strong local following as a result of his involvement in local government and previous candidacy as an independent candidate. While winning the seat is not that likely, with the LDP’s help he could really make a mark and catapult the party into the mainstream.
LDP members and supporters can assist Ben’s campaign in the form of money or time (or both). Donations up to $1500 are tax deductible and can by made by direct bank transfer, credit card, cheque or Paypal. See the LDP’s website or contact LDP Treasurer David Leyonhjelm on treasurer (AT) ldp.org.au for details.
Physical assistance with the campaign can take various forms. Options include letterboxing prior to the election and handing out leaflets on election day. Contact LDP President Peter Whelan at president (AT) ldp.org.au or (02) 9652 0415 if you can help.
Discussion of the Gippsland campaign can be found on the LDP’s blog.
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