NSW Police Force Conduct - Question Without Notice
Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (14:17): My question is directed to the Minister for Music and the Night‑time Economy. Late on Saturday 20 June about 12 uniformed police officers with a drug dog entered the Universal nightclub on Oxford Street.
They proceeded to walk through the crowd, including a crowded dance floor, while a drag performance was underway, swearing at patrons, taking people to the toilets to search them and even humiliating a staff member at the door, who was dressed in drag, by demanding she remove parts of her costume on the street in front of patrons. Unsurprisingly, the venue emptied out. This was not the only Oxford Street venue with reports of that behaviour by police. Why will the Minister not stop police killing Sydney's nightlife?
The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy) (14:18): I thank the member for the question. I was concerned to read reports of that incident and other issues that I understand have been going on. I thank the police for the work they do—it is a tough job being a police officer in New South Wales—but I was concerned to read some of those reports. I was pleased to see the new commissioner endorsing the Government's approach to vibrancy and backing those changes when he came into the role. He made those comments early on. We are seeing variations in the way policing is conducted. We have seen a positive approach in some areas, but I was concerned to read about the impact that had had on people. I am happy to take the question on notice and provide whatever further information I can to the member.
Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (14:19): I inform the Minister a bit more about what happened on that night. The Government has talked up a big game when it comes to supporting Sydney's nightlife and night‑time economy. It has spent millions of dollars, in fact, on supporting venues. But police are walking through venues, pushing patrons and telling them, "Are you just going to stand there or fucking move?" and police are pushing people and telling them to "fuck off". The Government can put all of the money in its budget towards these venues, but patrons will not go out if they are made to feel unsafe and uncomfortable because they are being harassed by police. That is happening at multiple venues. After it happened on that night, the place emptied and the nightclub received about 70 per cent less in turnover. The cops are killing Sydney's nightlife. The Minister has known that for a long time, and he is not doing anything about it.
The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy) (14:20): I do not accept the position that Ms Cate Faehrmann has put. It is well known that running a venue in New South Wales is tough to do. That is why the Parliament and all the MPs in this Chamber backed the changes, which are now having an impact. There is no question about that. As I already placed on record about the member's first question, I was concerned to read these reports. I have taken it on notice. The member does not need to make the general critique to raise those specific concerns, which people impacted by the issues have felt. Other members raised these issues elsewhere, and I have taken them on notice.