First Nations people and organisations have continued to propose solutions and call for genuine consultation between affected communities at all levels of government. But, as Jacob Andrewartha reports, they are being sidelined.
alcohol ban
I am clearly a pretty tough guy. I mean I must be, seeing as I've been going out and getting drunk quite frequently in Sydney for years now and have never once been assaulted.
True, I don't exactly “work out”, and I look more like a deflated beanbag than a Mr Universe contender, but as anyone who reads the Daily Telegraph will tell you, the city is in the grip of an out-of-control tidal wave of drunken violence.
In a turbulent meeting on April 20, City of Yarra councillors voted to reinstate a ban on public drinking, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The motion was passed by a coalition of Labor councillors and independents, five votes to four. The votes against were from the Socialist Party councillor and three Greens.
It overturned a March decision to lift the drinking ban during daylight hours.
The ban, known as Local Law 8, was passed in October and implemented in December.