Australia Day'08 Harmony Park "Reclaim Our Rights" community vigil

My speech and some pics from the today's rally against homophobic violence.

Australia Day'08 Harmony Park "Reclaim Our Rights" community vigil

30 years ago our community marched for equality;

– and we were bashed at Darlinghurst, Green Park, Rushcutters Bay and anywhere that gay men dared be seen.

In 2008 has so much really changed?

This is 2008 not 1978 when Gays and Lesbians first bravely marched for our rights,

first fought openly for our equality just a few metres away.

Where they were met with violence.

Where they were met with oppression.

Where they were met with beatings.

Where they were met with official discrimination.


This is 2008 and we should not have to be standing here today – On Australia Day in 2008,

Standing here in a vigil

– demanding an end to the violence

– demanding an end to the discrimination

– demanding equality as Australians

– demanding equality as human beings

But we are standing here in angry protest!!

Have things changes in 30 years??

We are still second class citizens in our country,

And while the government treats us a second class citizens,

Whilst government scorns our relationships,

It is a passive partner in the violence against us!

For as surely as cowards bashed Craig and Shane - the government was looking the other way.

And the broader community was looking the other way,

And the church was looking the other way.


For until government recognizes our relationships,

Until government recognizes our existence as legitimate and equal,

others will not follow:

Others like the homophobes bashing gay people on the streets around us every night
bashing gays on the streets around Australia.

Until government dismantles all the official prejudices against us.

Until all levels of government do that – until that happens – how can we expect the violent cowards to understand,

That we are fellow human beings.

That we are valued members of the Australian nation.


All levels of Government have to share this responsibility:

The Federal Government – I don’t care what party you are – just get on with dismantling the 58 laws that label us second class citizens.

End those laws this year?

End those laws in February in the 1st weeks of the new parliament sitting.

Mr Rudd don’t back slide on your promises!!

Do it now – make us equal now!


In NSW – Mr Iemma, make us equal - give us Civil Unions in NSW –

let me marry my Danish partner as he can do in his home country

– and every single country of the European Union including Britain.

Make my relationship equal

before our families,

Equality before the parliaments

Equal before the laws

Equal before the people

Equal before the gay bashers.


Make it clear to gay bashers that bashing 2 gay guys holding hands is the same evil as bashing a married straight couple holding hands.

We are equal, our rights and aspirations are equal.

Our pain and injuries are equal.


And to the Council.

I say Stop the blame game

Put aside your turf wars with the state government

and baggage of 20 years

You can do more to protect this vulnerable community.

Fund more Police on overtime for Oxford Street

And if the Police will not take out pink tax money then fund teams of security guards
over the summer peak.

Clover - support me next time at Council when I want us to open a police station on Oxford Street and pay for the extra police.

Support me next time when I have a positive plan to confront this violence.

Council can do more right now by:

expanding the CCTV to cover hot spots around Crown, Goulburn, Bourke and Flinders Streets

Fund a late night Police shop front in the midst of the Oxford Street clubs or at Taylor Square

Install panic points at Taylor Square and Crown Street intersections

develop a policy of incentives to gay bars and clubs on Oxford Street to retain the gay
venues


Now is the time for action - not more words.

The Council must move to protect our endangered Gay identity on Oxford Street.

Oxford Street is a gay street; we want it to stay a gay street
we don’t want permission to visit our bars and venues

30 years ago our community marched for equality


In 2008 has so much really changed?

Today right here in Harmony park – thanks to a motivated and caring community members - we are saying enough is bloody enough!

Give us our full and equal rights.

Government – stop looking the other way

and treating us as second class citizens condoning the violence against us.

Give us equality, give us protection and banish the hate in the hearts of a few of our fellow Australians.

I thank the organizers and all of you for coming along today.

Pics - top Shayne addressing the rally and bottom protesters march up Oxfrod Street

Council must do more to prevent violence on Oxford Street

MEDIA RELEASE

City of Sydney Councillor Shayne Mallard is keeping the pressure on Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP and her City Council with renewed calls for the Council to take positive action to help stop the growing violence against gays and lesbians around Oxford Street.
"Late last year I called upon Lord Mayor and member for Sydney, Clover Moore and her ruling group on the City Council to fund a late night shop front Police station and staff for Oxford Street as an immediate and urgent action to address growing anti social and
homophobic behaviour on the famous entertainment strip," Shayne said.
"Clover Moore refused my proposal and instead offered as an alternative an empty Council shop in the wrong location to be staffed by volunteers,"
"Clover and her group of Councillors waived a vague Police department memo to claim that such a proposal was not permissible. This has since been refuted by the Police
Minister's office."
In the meantime the violence and anti social behaviour that particularly targets gays and lesbians has escalated and appears to have expanded with the appalling homophobic bashing in Crown street several weeks
ago.

Shayne Mallard has released his 10 point plan to urgently address the growing violence on the strip:

1. Upgrade CCTV on Oxford street so that all aspects are covered
2. expand CCTV to cover hot spots around Crown, Goulburn, Bourke and Flinders Streets
3. Install more CCTV warning and awareness signs including in venues
4. Fund a trial late night Police front in the midst of the Oxford Street clubs or at Taylor Square
5. Fund trial late night Police overtime for regular patrols of the streets and bars OR
6. Fund trial team of private security guards in direct contact with police to patrol the streets
7. Install panic points at Taylor Square and Crown Street intersections similar to those in China Town where threatened people can be immediately patched through to Police for help
8. develop a policy of incentives to gay bars and clubs on Oxford Street to retain the gay venues
9. develop with the community a gay and lesbian education program about safety awareness and responsibility
10. develop with the community an anti discrimination and anti violence
campaign

Shayne defended his plan against critics who claim Council should not be funding State government responsibilities.
"When I last raised the idea of Council stepping in to fund an Oxford street Police shop and Police overtime, Clover and her Councillors ridiculed the idea as cost shifting."
"Council already funds areas that have traditionally been state government
responsibilities including CCTV, homeless services and health care."
Shayne said that after spending $23 million on the Oxford street upgrade the investment in community safety is a small consideration.
"It is time this Council did more than flower boxes, worthy reports and pointing the finger," Shayne concluded.

Shayne Mallard will be addressing the Anti Violence Vigil at Harmony Park, Goulburn Street, Surry Hills this Saturday from 4pm.
RELEASE ENDS
23 January 2008

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS STARTS by Harley Dennett SSO

Homophobic violence is looming as the major issue for many of the contenders in the City of Sydney council elections later this year, with the Greens and Liberals calling for new thinking.
NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon vowed to make the issue a top priority during the campaign.
“We’re not blaming any specific person for this, but violence is obviously a complex issue and we need to be using all opportunities to raise it,” she said.
“It’s got to be policies on the ground. Clearly the local council needs to work with police, but there’s a real role for it in changing what that entertainment precinct is used for.
“It’s quite a different place during the evening than during the day time. We support the measures to bring back the shops people need – fruit and veg, butcher, etc.”
Sydney Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard offered a 10-point plan including expanding and upgrading the CCTV network and advertising it with warning signs.
He also wanted panic points similar to those at Chinatown installed at Taylor Square and the Crown St intersection.
Mallard has not backed down on council paying for supplementary policing, which Lord Mayor Clover Moore has maintained is not permissible.
“Council already funds areas that have traditionally been state government responsibilities including CCTV, homeless services and health care,” Mallard said.
“It is time this Council did more than flower boxes, worthy reports and pointing the finger.”
He also called for incentives for gay venues on Oxford St to stay gay.
A number of gay venues have development applications to increase viability. The Colombian Hotel has requested a 24-hour licence, Arq plans a new street-level small bar to operate during the week, and Slide wants to cut its security staff by a third.
Marc Kuzma from Slide said there was no violence within the gay venue, only outside where it maintained four security staff to protect patrons.
Arq proprietor Shadd Danesi said the gay clubs have always been part of the solution.
“In regards to clubs contributing, Arq has already put security guards on Sturt and Taylor streets for the last nine years,” he said.
“Both those streets were fairly violent and we’ve cleaned them up. It’s cost in excess of $1.2 million in wages for those security guards. We’ve contributed a massive amount of money to keeping the surrounding streets safe.”
Moore and Mallard are both scheduled to speak at Saturday’s vigil against homophobic violence.

NRMA triggers bicycle debate

The NRMA's attack on bicycle infrastructure investment has triggered an angry debate in today's SMH including an editorial calling for more use of footpaths (something the City of Sydney is doing as shared zones in some areas where pedestrian numbers are not high), an op ed penned by Clover Moore's office, a news report and a series of letters including mine below. I'm off to ride my bike now. PS great pic on line and reproduced here as well!

Letters to the Editor

Where has the NRMA been? All over the Western world urban people are increasingly turning to cycling for transport and recreation. Sydney City Council research shows people want to take up cycling for environmental, health and economic reasons but are reluctant because of the lack of safe, coherent cycling infrastructure. This is where the NRMA's rubbery financial figures fall down. The cycling infrastructure that today's governments are finally building is an investment for generations to come. As an NRMA member I should point out that in any one week I drive my car, catch public transport, walk to work and ride my bicycle. Our road infrastructure must be understood in a balanced and sustainable context if it is to serve Sydney for generations to come.
Councillor Shayne Mallard Sydney

Bike lanes dangerous, cyclists warn

NRMA misses point on Cycling investment

Welcome back to the New Year and what better way to start than the NRMA taking the opportunity to attack government spending on cycling infrastructure. I'm not sure where they have been for the past few years but cycling numbers are growing all over Australia and the western world as people look to alternative modes of transport. Cycling numbers are growing steadily here in Sydney as well. Council's research has shown that the biggest obstacle to more people cycling recreation or to commute is lack of safer cycling infrastructure such as separated cycling lanes. When first elected to the city Council I campaigned for separate 'European' style cycling lanes for William and Oxford Streets. The outcome was the unacceptable compromise of cycling in bus lanes on Oxford or in imaginative painted lanes that disappear on William. The Council has now finally changed its approach and is investing in proper infrastructure to support current and future growth in cycling. What the NRMA forgets is that it is not us or them - the users of the roads are all tax payers and all various users at different times. I'm a cyclist but also own a car, walk to work and catch public transport.


SMH report below:

Money wasted on cyclists: NRMA

Car is still king . . . a cyclist cuts a lonely figure on the path shared with pedestrians on Epping Road yesterday.Photo: Ben Rushton
Alexandra SmithJanuary 10, 2008
TAXPAYERS are pouring millions of dollars into lining motorways with cycleways that are barely used - and are building a new bicycle lane the NRMA says will effectively cost $300,000 for every cyclist that uses it.
Despite pleas from Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, for bicycles to reclaim the streets, the motoring organisation says residents are sticking to four wheels.
In a submission to the Roads and Traffic Authority it accuses the Government of wasting millions on cyclists at the expense of motorists, who are forced to battle worsening congestion as lanes are removed from busy roads.
The cycling lane on the M2 attracted just 130 cyclists a day. The Iemma Government is building a cycleway alongside choked Epping Road, despite as few as 25 cyclists using that corridor each day.
At $7.6 million for the Epping Road cycleway, the NRMA says that would amount to spending $300,000 per cyclist on a lane that is unlikely to attract many more riders, based on the experiences of the M2 motorway.
The NRMA wants the Epping Road cycleway to be scrapped to allow lanes to be widened for trucks and cars.
The Westlink M7 cycleway added $60 million to the cost of that project, a legacy of the former roads minister Carl Scully.
The Government has paid $25 million to Connector Motorways, which owns the Lane Cove Tunnel, to delay narrowing Epping Road from three lanes to one in each direction, leaving room for a bus lane and cycleway. The intention of narrowing the road is to funnel motorists into the tunnel.
The M2 dedicated a breakdown lane to cyclists when it opened 10 years ago but only 130 cyclists a day used it.
Cr Moore has accused the Government of being anti-bicycle and pro-car, and has flagged a plan for a cheap bicycle rental system in the city.
But the president of the NRMA, Alan Evans, questioned the value of cycling lanes, and said Sydney motorists would suffer when the Epping Road-Lane Cove Tunnel roadworks were completed.
"When you have high traffic volumes of more than 35,000 vehicles per day, this is not a sensible use of resources," Mr Evans said. "Cyclists appear to be the only winners on Epping Road, at the expense of thousands of motorists."
A spokesman for the RTA said the cycleway would attract many more cyclists than those now using Epping Road. He said the NRMA's figure was not a true reflection of how popular the new cycleway would be once completed.
"If you give cyclists a dedicated facility instead of riding in normal traffic, they will use it," the spokesman said.
The acting Opposition Leader, Andrew Stoner, said the traffic gridlock on Epping Road was a sign of things to come.
"Current traffic on Epping Road is bumper-to-bumper and most people haven't even returned from their holidays," he said. "Morris Iemma and [the Minister for Roads] Eric Roozendaal spent $25 million of taxpayers' money to delay the road changes until after the state and federal elections and now motorists know why."
Bicycles stay home
- M2: 130 cyclists a day
- Westlink M7: 40 km cycleway, cost $60 million
- Epping Road: $7.6 million, 25 cyclists using the road each day

Thank you

Thank you for your support

I am writing to thank you on behalf of the Liberal Action Team for your interest and support in my campaign for the City of Sydney. Whilst the final election results are not in, it appears that Clover Moore MP has been returned with an outright majority on the Council and the Greens have increased their position at the expense of Labor.

The Liberal Party can be satisfied that we improved our vote by 4%. As I travelled around the polling booths I was delighted by the positive response our policies on car parking and the city economy were receiving from voters. The 4% swing should be seen as support for these strong policies and I will use my position on the Council in the coming term to argue the agenda we set in this election. I would like to thank the volunteers and supporters who worked on the campaign and on polling day.

I would like take this opportunity to thank the great team who took time out of their busy work lives to stand with me for election. My team presented a very credible alternative Council. The new Council will meet later this month and eCouncillor will resume its usual monthly format. Thank you to the readers for your advice and support.

Shayne Mallard, Councillor

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