Pokie vote comes back to bite

BY ALEX MCDONALD
Clover Moore’s running mate John Wardle has criticised Labor’s would-be Mayor Meredith Burgmann for supporting a contentious piece of liquor legislation while she was a member of the NSW upper house.
Mr Wardle said the amendment to the Liquor and Registered Clubs Legislation, which Dr Burgmann supported in 1996, led to the proliferation of poker machines in the state’s clubs and hotels.
The former member for Manly Dr Peter Macdonald and Clover Moore were the only two MPs in the Legislative Assembly to oppose the bill.
‘As one of the 26 people in the upper house of the NSW Parliament on November 19 1996, who voted poker machines into NSW hotels, Meredith may share some responsibility for contributing to social disadvantage and generational poverty in the City of Sydney,’ Mr Wardle said in a statement.
While she did not recall the precise details of the bill, Dr Burgmann said as a member of State Parliament she was obliged to vote in line with her party colleagues.
If elected Lord Mayor this weekend, Dr Burgmann said she would encourage her Community Labor colleagues to always vote ‘according to our conscious’. 
In relation to her 1996 vote in support of more pokies, Dr Burgmann said: ‘I was never keen on the idea, I think poker machines have contributed to ruining the atmosphere in pubs. I’ve spent a lot of times in pubs and I love that communal atmosphere. Pubs like the East Sydney Hotel in Woolloomooloo are excellent.’
Some city musicians have also voiced their concerns about Dr Burgmann’s support of the decade-old bill, saying its legacy has left the city with a sub-par music scene.                       “I am very, very afraid for the future of my city if we have her as Lord Mayor,’ said Chippendale musician Cameron Undy. Jazz drummer Hamish Stuart added that ‘As someone who was in support of putting poker machines into the hotels of Sydney… I find it offensive that she should be running on a social policy agenda.’
But Dr Burgmann said noise complaints from residents have had a greater impact on the city’s live music than poker machines.
‘People living next door to pubs hear the noise,’ she said. ‘It’s the problem of living in the inner city. I don’t think it’s anything to do with poker machines.’
Many musicians are now pinning their hopes on the Small Bars Bill to revive the city’s music scene. The ink is still wet on the bill, which Clover Moore pushed through State Parliament to allow more flexible liquor licensing for venues serving less than 120 patrons.
Although Dr Burgmann supports the bill, some city business owners doubt whether it will reduce weekend violence and anti-social behaviour.
‘It’s not a good initiative with big pubs and clubs already there,” William Street business owner Sue Hanley told The City News. “If [small bars] were a substitute it might bring some civility.’
While the Small Bars Bill aims to remove the amount of red tape for newer venues, the City of Sydney is now requesting management plans from those same venues when they lodge development applications with council. The management plans, to be assessed by councillors, will detail how pubs and clubs handle patron behaviour.
The Australian Hotels Association CEO Sally Fielke said council is overstepping the mark.
‘Council should just stick to whatever it is that they do,’ she said.
Meanwhile Dr Burgmann said she would encourage more live music in those city venues as long as they did not impact on residents.
‘I can assure you that I will look into Mr Wardle’s background,’ she said. ‘It’s not true that poker machines have wrecked a lot of pub atmospheres. This guy is drawing a very long bow.’