[Dixielandjazz] Musical Protest in Oz

[David Richoux]

for all of our "Down Under" list-mates:

Musicians rally in protest outside Mitcham MP Tony Robinson's office.
Protesters dance to a different tune out front of Minister’s office
05 NOV 09 @ 11:42AM BY JAMES DOWLING

Tony Robinson’s Mitcham electorate office was the target for a  
harmonious protest that stalled traffic and brought a
smile to the faces of his office staff.
The Consumer Affairs Minister and Mitcham MP is at discords with the  
musicians union, which took a small marching
band to the MP’s office to protest his crackdown on licensed venues  
and the impact it could have on the live music
scene.
Musician Union Melbourne branch secretary Terry Noone said his union  
abhorred violence but a regulation that
required all live music venues to have two crowd controllers would  
hurt Melbourne’s live music scene.
He said small venues would not be able to afford two crowd controllers  
and that meant fewer venues and less gigs
for the professional musician.
Mr Noone’s band of a sousaphone, drum, guitar, accordion, clarinet and  
saxophone performed its jazz-inspired jig at
the office near the Blackburn Rd rail crossing, which they called  
``music doesn’t cause violence’’.
``We decided on a silly protest against these silly laws,’’ Mr Noone  
said.
``But the silliness can have a real impact on what people need to do  
to make a living.’’
Mr Noone said the crack down inferred music was a contributing factor  
to the city’s ugly boozy-bust ups.
Tony Robinson was not in his electorate office during the protest but  
his staffer promised to deliver the minstrel’s
pamphlets to his boss.
``It was one of the more interesting protests we have had,’’ he said.


picture at
http://whitehorse-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/protesters-dance-to-a-different-tune-out-front-of-ministers-office/

Dave Richoux