Nightclubs Campaign For Election

The Nightclub Owners Forum (NOF) threw its muscle behind the Australian Sex Party for the Nov. 27 state elections in Victoria.

The party’s platform adopted NOF policies, including blaming patrons rather than nightclubs for violent behaviour, restore liquor license fees to 2009 levels, put more cops in entertainment precincts, run train services for 24 hours on weekends and provide taxi ranks “with manned security, CCTV, public toilets, water and first aid facilities.”

NOF convener Peter Iwaniuk says that Victoria’s state government “has been at war with the hospitality industry.” It cites its raising of liquor license fees by more than 1,000 percent for some venues, early lockouts and blaming nightclubs for “its own policy shortcomings in controlling anti social behaviour and violence,” Iwaniuk said.

The NOF claims nightclub disturbances make up just 4 percent of total crime.

In the meantime, music photographer Serge Thomann is running as a candidate at the elections to become a voice for the live music sector in Parliament.

A number of acts including Kate Ceberano, Renee Geyer, Ross Wilson and the Dili Allstars play a fund-raiser for him Nov. 17 at The Palace club.