Thursday, 15 May 2025

ATET event space

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) incorporated the following (1642):

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Local Government, and I seek the action of the minister to urgently investigate the heavy-handed treatment by the Melbourne City Council of ATET, a floating event space located in Docklands in my electorate.

The director of this business, Jake Hughes, has written to me outlining the steps that he has taken to comply with rules, permits and licences required by the council.

He sought to work productively with council to balance the needs of a venue which hosts events and live music with the noise-related needs of local residents.

I am informed that they took prompt action to address complaints but in June of 2023 had their licence to operate terminated.

It has been reported in the Herald Sun that a whistleblower has revealed that:

The City of Melbourne was determined to shut down controversial floating nightclub ATET and ignored reasonable attempts by the small business to stay open …

…

‘The council had no desire, at all, to find a resolution,’ the internal council source familiar with the shutdown of the ATET business alleged.

‘This wasn’t about negotiation; it was about shutting down a small business.’

… the source from within the City of Melbourne alleged Ms Capp and others involved in the decision-making process overstated the number of complaints from residents.

This is a shocking allegation and, if true, represents not only an attack on the rights of small business in the City of Melbourne and on nightlife but on the ideas of due process and the rule of law.

To quote Jake Hughes:

We have done everything the council has ever asked of us and have been repeatedly blindsided by their actions not matching their words …

This sort of behaviour is unacceptable from a local council and so I seek the action of the minister to find out from the council exactly how many complaints were received against ATET and whether they were substantiated and valid, and to investigate whether the council had a predetermined agenda in their investigation of ATET.