FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AN OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

2^nd of March 2010

Dear Members of Parliament,

I would like to bring to your attention a rally I am organising against reduced trading hours for licensed venues across Queensland. The rally is to voice our disappointment and protest about such a proposal and to also highlight the Bligh Government’s insistence to continually treat adults as children and punish the majority because of the actions of a very small minority.

This is the real scenario; reduced trading hours will kill off the music scene in Queensland and the Valley, which has given life to every major band from the Bee Gees to Powderfinger.

Our protest is not without acknowledgement that there is a problem with alcohol-related violence. It would be a head in the sand attitude to think that no action needs to be taken to address the alcohol-related violence trend in society and Brisbane alike; however, I do not believe the solution is reducing trading hours.

Taking the point that reducing trading hours will reduce incidents, why not have curfews on driving on the roads between 1am and 5am when single vehicle accidents regularly occur because people fall asleep. The government obviously doesn’t see this as a viable solution so it tackles that problem in a different manner through effective campaigns and, rightly so, punishes people who drink and drive with suspensions and harsh fines to get the message across.

It would be far more effective to embark on this type of campaign of advertising and heavier penalties to tackle this issue in society – not just the Valley– than reducing trading hours. Tackling the cause and not the symptom is the answer. On top of that, the 3am lockout has been acknowledged by licensees, Chaplain Watch and the Taxi Association as causing more incidents than it is worth.

If hours were reduced and venues are forced to close at 2am or 3am; the problems associated with the lockout could easily exacerbate with 30,000 people shunted on to the streets at closing time. It would clog public transport and the taxi system; violence may actually rise unless of course there are significantly more police on the grounds to handle such a mammoth groundswell of people in the streets.

There is also the economic impact of reduced trading hours and in particular jobs, which many students rely on to get through their Tertiary Education, being lost as well as numerous other people who will lose hours.

This is why on March 11th (from 4pm), I am organising a major rally of students, music lovers, residents and people who care about the above issues and don’t want to see the demise of the culture in Brisbane, to gather outside Parliament. We are encouraging them to bring their parents and families to the protest to show that it’s not just the youth that care about this issue, its all Queenslanders.

There is more at stake than just trading hours. There are civil liberties at stake and the absence of a Government wanting to punish offenders and deal with the problem head on through education, tougher penalties and ad campaigns. That’s an issue for parents as well as their children.

It’s why I also extend an invitation for you to stand beside us or at least address the rally on your views. I’m also asking for your support to sponsor an official parliamentary petition which we will distribute across to every contact we have.

Please, do not destroy the culture of our great State.

Warm Regards
Zach Salar
M: 0412 086 614
E: zachsalar@gmail.com

http://queenslandlockedout.com