Arts, culture and different kinds of humbug

03 August 2010Culture and the arts have not featured prominently in this year’s election campaign. That’s a shame, writes Ben Eltham in Inside Story

EARLIER this year, an amazing thing happened in Melbourne. Fifteen thousand people gathered in front of the Victorian parliament to protest against an unpopular government decision. The colourful crowd chanted and marched, sported placards and banners, and listened to speeches by local identities.

What were they protesting about? Climate change? Refugees? The war in Afghanistan?

No, they were protesting about a decision by Liquor Licensing Victoria to enforce onerous security requirements on live music venues in Melbourne. The new regulations had led to the closure of…

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Photo: Craig Anderson/ Flickr

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