By Ian Neubauer
The AHA of Tasmania collected more than 2000 signatures from patrons this weekend demanding a greater police presence for Hobart’s Waterfront District.
Hotel patrons showed overwhelming support for the petition, which was placed at two unidentified venues on Friday and Saturday nights (September 12 and 13).
“Like everywhere else in the country, our members have been getting pressure in relation to anti-social behaviour on the streets,” said AHA Tasmania CEO, Steve Old.
“Licensees have been copping the heat and the police and regulators are saying, ‘It’s your problem, you have to clean it up’. But we say, ‘How is it our responsibility when it is happening all over town?’.”.
The petition calls for greater police numbers during weekend trading hours and for authorities to work with business operators to “collectively help combat those who choose to do the wrong thing”.
Olds said the AHA has to resort to using a petition because previous efforts to bring the issue to the attention of the Tasmanian Government had not yielded results. He said the petition and signatures would be dispatched to relevant authorities this week.
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