The petition to save live music in Melbourne which Tone Deaf proudly hosted, was delivered to Victoria’s Parliament yesterday. Member of the Legislative Council Sue Pennicuik groaned under the weight of the 22,000 signatures as they were presented by a who’s who of Melbourne musicians, including Clare Bowditch, Kram, Ross Wilson, Dan Sultan, Angie Hart and Evelyn Morris AKA Pikelet.
The petition calls for the legislative link between live music venues and violence which was slapped on the long suffering gig going public and musicians by the Victorian Government. It is an ill conceived knee jerk reaction to tabloid and talkback radio hysteria about growing alcohol fuelled violence on the streets of Melbourne. Completely ignoring the ongoing granting of licenses to bogan frequented new beer barns, the inability of Liquor Licensing Victoria Director Sue MacLellan to understand the peaceful nature of musos and punters contributed to the closure of iconic Melbourne venue The Tote in January. It’s also still causing general hardship amongst remaining live music venues.
The petition will be tabled in Victoria’s Upper House when Parliament next resumes and readers are urged to keep a cuban heel against your local member’s throat – the formerly safe Labor inner city seats full of Melbourne’s music venues are now completely up for grabs at the next election in November, so make them beg for your vote.
In more pleasing news, The Age reports that rumours suggest that Liquor Licensing Director MacLellan won’t have her contract renewed next month when LLV and the State’s gambling regulation authority are merged. Tone Deaf suggests she doesn’t seek to forge a new career as a band booker or landlord at pubs in Melbourne’s inner city…
Watch this video of the rally
