Party ban upheld

By Lilly O’Gorman
HARKAWAY Hall has won its fight to ban 18th and 21st parties, but is seeking compensation for the potential hiring fees lost during its battle.
On Monday 19 March, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled in favour of the Harkaway Public Hall Committee to allow it to discriminate on the basis of age, and ban parties for people under 22.
Harkaway Public Hall Committee secretary Phil Wild said he was pleased but not surprised by the verdict, because “right was on our side”.
“What that means, is we can now go back to the situation we had prior to the (Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission) intervention, so that we can now discriminate on the basis of age and not allow parties that we think will cause disruption and damage within our community and danger to the young persons attending if don’t have transport away from the hall,” Mr Wild said.
“We will continue to hire out the hall to people in the area, and because the money coming in will be able to maintain and improve it.”
Despite being thrilled with the decision, Mr Wild said the committee had lost about $4500 since the VEOHRC had intervened, as they were unable to hire out the hall during that time.
He said he had contacted the VEOHRC and requested that they settle these costs.
A spokesperson for the VEOHRC said it would not comment on the matter following the Gazette’s inquiries.
Despite the loss of funds, Mr Wild said he was certain the tight-knit Harkaway community would be “very, very happy with the outcome”.
“It does have a fair bit of history and has been an integral part of the Harkaway community for over 100 years,” he said.
“We’re very, very happy that the matter has gone our way.”
The hall committee was forced to close the doors to the venue in about September last year after being found in breach of anti-discrimination laws
The hall committee was granted an exemption by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 1999 allowing them to ban 18th and 21st parties at the venue after years of bad behaviour from drunken youths.
But on applying to VCAT again last year, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission was notified and subsequently intervened.