It’s Time You Were Heard
Well it’s been a number of weeks since the Sandringham Hotel in Newtown was put under the control of receivers by BankWest. Sections of the community are concerned that the Hotel’s ongoing service to the arts through its support of live music and artistic culture is at risk. This concern is not misplaced as there is a real risk that Sydney may lose this venue to developers or a corporate hotel chain that is more interested in the installation of poker machines than that of building a stage or the putting on of a show.
The way in which the Hotel came into receivership is now the subject of a greater senate inquiry as the Sandringham Hotel is the latest Australian business to unite with ‘Unhappy Banking‘ who have successfully lobbied the federal government for a senate inquiry into banking practices post-GFC. The alleged unconscionable conduct by BankWest, now owned by the Commonwealth Bank, was questioned first publicly by ABC’s program Four Corners back in April this year http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/04/05/3471045.htm). The Financial Review reported on the 07th of August that Legal teams planning a class action against BankWest and its owner the Commonwealth Bank of Australia will be monitoring proceedings at the Senate inquiry this week as they prepare to push ahead with the claim.
Not all the news is bleak though as there is a dedicated group of professionals and a larger group of advocates that have emerged from the community in support of the Hotel. Together they are working to preserve this iconic Sydney venue. Meeting week to week and communicating individually day to day the ‘Save Our Sando, Save Our Scene’ committee has several goals. The committee is made up of local publicists, business owners, writers, musicians, artists, promoters and members of the general public who have come forth and offered their skills and time. Their main goal is to raise awareness of the importance in maintaining not only the Sandringham Hotel as a venue for the arts in Sydney but in setting up measures so that similar venues get the support and protections that they need so as they can continue to keep giving back to the greater community through the support they give to Syndey’s artistic community. The support the committee is garnishing is overwhelming and growing day by day with politicians, celebrities and commercial corporations all chipping in to lend a hand.
If you have read this far, then your interest in the story is somewhat serious, it’s time you were heard. To help us accomplish our long term goals we now need you to tell our politicians what venues like the Sandringham Hotel mean to the community and what they mean to you. We need you to write in your own words the importance of these institutions and we need you to send those messages to the politicians. We will be rallying these politicians however if they first receive a thousand letters from the community it will make our task easier in the long run.
Below is a list of contact details for both state and federal politicians as well as the contact details for the ‘Minister of the Arts’ both at state and federal levels.
Write a quick email to one politician or you may choose to write a carefully worded email to all of them. The important thing is that you show your support for institutions like the Sandringham Hotel which give many grass roots arts and entertainment movements a voice. Feel free to let us know when you have sent a message off because we would like to thank you.
Contact Details for local Federal and State Government Members –
State Government member for Marrickville
Carmel Tebbutt, MP
marrickville@parliament.nsw.gov.au
N.S.W State Government – Minister for the Arts-
George Souris MP
office@souris.minister.nsw.gov.au
Federal Member for Grayndler (Marrickville – Newtown)
Anthony Albanese MP
A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au
Federal Minister for the Arts -
Simon Crean MP
s.crean.mp@aph.gov.au
Federal Senator / Shadow Minister for the Arts
George Brandis
senator.brandis@aph.gov.au
You may follow the links below if you are interested to further read up on the Senate banking inquiry.
Facebook BankWest Class action Page -Â http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bankwest-Class-Action/203569616356626
Unhappy Banking -Â http://www.unhappybanking.net.au/
