A prisoner of business interests
By Maurice Sibelle
BRISBANE — Leaked minutes of the Queen Street Mall advisory committee show how council was urged by mall traders to launch its campaign against democratic rights. The minutes are the official record of the November 4 meeting of the committee.
The committee, set up under the Mall Act, includes state government and local council representatives. Property owners, the City Heart Business Association, senior council officials and invited guests also attend.
The minutes show that the intent of the mall by-laws is political discrimination. Alderman David Hinchcliffe, the councillor responsible for the mall, is quoted as saying that newspaper sales and political activity were "not causing a major problem".
The minutes state that Hinchcliffe explained "to the committee how council is maintaining a low key approach to minority groups selling newspapers and setting up stalls whilst these ordinances are being considered by the government ministers. Further to this, he advised that he has requested the Malls supervisor prepare a submission to civic cabinet setting out a list of options on how best to respond to these situations and create a clear set of guidelines for future management in this regard."
Later, "Mr Campbell-Ryder suggested the banning of newspapers, commercial and otherwise, and any other printed matter should be incorporated into one submission so as to appear that freedom of speech is not the only area targeted for action", the minutes continued.
"This exchange shows clearly how the plan to deny democratic rights in the Queen Street Mall was hatched", explained Susan Price. "The Labor council is acting in the interests of a tiny minority of business people. Hinchcliffe was aware from the start that they would be infringing free speech. Yet they still went ahead."