Minister Rolls in to Save Rock Venue

By Andrew Starke

Iconic Collingwood rock venue, The Tote, may be granted a stay of execution as stakeholders and a local Labor MP meet today (Jan 20) to discuss possible options.

Pub licensee Bruce Milne was forced to shut up shop yesterday, citing the prohibitive cost of hiring security and a massive jump in the Tote's liquor licence fee as reasons for the closure.

The venue incurred new restrictions when it was recently reclassified as a ‘high-risk’ venue.

The change, which has also hit other live venues, meant a 500 percent jump in the licence fee and the compulsory hiring of extra security staff.

According to The Age, Housing Minister and local Labor MP for Richmond, Richard Wynne, will today meet with The Tote's landlord, Christopher Morris, to discuss whether State Government could intervene in the matter.

The newspaper reported that a wide cross-section of Melbourne music fans had gathered yesterday to pay tribute to the venue that has hosted Australian bands such as Spiderbait, Jet and the Dirty Three as well as overseas acts such as the White Stripes, the Dirtbombs and Evan Dando.

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[Wed 20/01/2010 02:07:31]