SLAM

PATRICK DONOVAN
THE AGE, April 8, 2010

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/musos-take-fight-to-parliament-20100407-rs7g.html

_{The Greens’ Sue Pennicuik accepts the petition from SLAM’s representatives.
Photo by Carbie © www.carbiewarbie.com}

MELBOURNE musicians have turned up the heat on the state government for failing to deliver on promises to remove high-risk conditions on live music venues.

Performers including Ross Wilson, Mike Rudd, Kram, Clare Bowditch, Angie Hart and 83-year-old Nick Polites presented a petition, signed by 22,000 people, which urges the government to remove the link in liquor licences between live music and high-risk conditions.

It was handed to Greens arts spokeswoman Sue Pennicuik yesterday on the steps of State Parliament, where more than 10,000 music fans marched in a rally six weeks ago.

Ms Pennicuik said the high-risk conditions could be lifted immediately by the government and she would raise the issue in Parliament next week.

"We all know music doesn’t cause violence. Over the last 20 years we’ve had music venues closing down because of pokie machines, and now we have this condition put on by the Liquor Licensing Commission that equates live music with high-risk … There’s no need for it."

There were high hopes in the music industry when the government signed an 11th-hour accord on the eve of the rally. But six weeks on, high-risk conditions remain on many venue licences and musicians are struggling for work.

Broadcaster Jonnie von Goes said that so far the accord was not worth the paper it was printed on. "Nothing has happened," he said.

Collingwood’s Tote Hotel, which hopes to reopen with new licensees, and Brunswick’s Lomond Hotel, are two of six hotels that are urgently awaiting reviews of their licences.

"In the accord they said they would expedite the licence rollbacks and have answers within six weeks, but the Lomond’s paperwork is still sitting on [Liquor Licence director] Sue Maclellan’s desk," says SLAM co-organiser Helen Marcou.

"We imagine it will just sit on her desk until her tenure is up in a few weeks."

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said the licensees would be notified of a decision soon, and he urged the 700 other high-risk venues to apply.

Mr Polites, 83, who still plays clarinet in his jazz band at Carlton’s Clyde Hotel each Sunday, said he had played in venues all over the world because of the leg-up he got in Melbourne.

"We got the chance to really learn how to play our stuff in the small venues. Young people won’t get the opportunity if these rules go through."

Blaise Adamson, 19, from Geelong band Houses, said: "We can’t let the culture disappear."

OTHER COVERAGE

Triple J’s Hack: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s2866622.htm

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Thursday April 1st, 2010

S.L.A.M / Fair Go 4 Live Music / Music Victoria

Over 20,000 Victorians demand that
‘high-risk’ conditions be de-linked from live music.

PETITION DELIVERY WEDNESDAY APRIL 7TH 2010
12.30pm Parliament House, Melbourne

Since the closure of The Tote Hotel in mid-January, the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition has been collecting signatures from music lovers all around Victoria, calling on the State Government to overturn the link between live music and ‘high risk’ conditions on liquor licenses for live music venues.

Melbourne’s musicians and music lovers marched through the city streets for the SLAM Rally on February 23rd and it’s time to return to the steps of Parliament with the delivery of the petition to the Legislative Council on Wednesday April 7th 2010 by various decades of well-known Victorian musicians.

The Victorian musicians who will be presenting the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition to Parliament are:

• 1930s – Harold Frith
• 1940s – Mike Rudd
• 1940s – Ross Wilson
• 1960s – Jon Von Goes
• 1960s – Clare Bowditch
• 1970s – Kram
• 1970s – Angie Hart
• 1980s – Dan Sultan
• 1980s – Evelyn Morris

More musicians to be confirmed.

Despite the signing of the Live Music Accord with the State Government, the link between live music and ‘high risk’ still exists. More disturbingly, no venues have had their high risk conditions removed since the signing of the Accord. The music industry and the public want to see real action on this issue. We want action, not just Accords. The threat to Victoria’s vibrant live music culture remains in place. The 22,000 signatures attest to the public support of live music. SLAM, FG4LM and Music Victoria will redouble their efforts to bring this issue to the attention of the public.

Click here to download this media release as a PDF.

Dr Shane Homan, a senior lecturer at Monash University has delivered a fascinating paper entitled Governmental as Anything: Live Music and Law and Order in Melbourne.

With his kind permission, it is available for download here. (PDF file, 127 KB)

This video was created by Paul Drane, who shot the original in ACDC film clip for “It’s A Long Way To The Top” in 1976.

Please add your photos to the SLAM Rally Melbourne 2010 Group pool at Flickr.

Check out more  videos  of the rally >

Download the Live Music Accord as PDF.

Some t-shirts and badges will be available for purchase from the merch desk at Golden Plains. Get in quick!