Mardi Gras, Police, Premier sign new Mardi Gras Festival Accord
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has signed a new agreement between Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and NSW Police that is aimed ensuring a safe and welcoming experience for all participants and spectators at Mardi Gras events this year.
Called the Mardi Gras Festival Accord, key components include Mardi Gras and the police jointly planing to ensure a consistent approach to policing that is appropriate to the scale, risk, cultural sensitivities and visitation outcomes of the Mardi Gras Festival, the removal of temporary street barriers immediately after the Parade finishes, promote awareness and education on laws regarding alcohol and illegal drug use, and more.
The accord also reflected the need for briefings and cultural sensitivity training for police officers, especially for those from local area commands outside of Surry Hills.
It also recognises the economic impact that Mardi Gras has on Sydney and as one of NSW’s most significant events in terms of visitation and economic return.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have welcomed the decision.
“The community and visitors should feel confident that this announcement signifies a commitment that Mardi Gras, the police and all agencies will work together to ensure that participants and visitors are well looked after, and made to feel safe and protected, and treated fairly and equitably,” the organisation stated in a press release.
For more information about Mardi Gras’ jam-packed calendar of summer events, head to www.mardigras.org.au
(Picture: Surry Hills Police LGBTI liaison officer Tony Crandell, Mardi Gras CEO Michael Rolik, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, Mardi Gras Co-Chair Siri Kommedahl sign the Mardi Gras Festival Accord. Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna)
What an embarrassment that is this day in age, we found it necessary to have an accord in the first place. Beginning to feel like the government and its agencies feel like we are a bunch of sub species mutants. Furthermore, does this accord address issues for the other 364 days a year?
I guess we should give police a chance but they have fucked over so many people of late, they look like a train wreck and there is clearly something wrong with our police force, what other conclusion can one form???
And here I was hoping it was Barry O Farrell signing his resignation. Damn I got excited.
Good to see the Premier involved in this, and well done to the Mardi Gras CEO and co chair – the problem is you’re dealing with a sub standard, poorly trained police force staffed with high school drop outs, some of whom hate gays and love using their weapons. When this army of thugs get out of line, or worse when they kill someone – then – like the bunch of crooks most of them are, senior police, and their lawyers will lie, spin and try to deflect their way out of it – including Supt Crandell – who helped cover up what they did to my partner and myself. So a pact with the devil it seems… I guess that’s the best one can do. I would like to see the 1,000+ police they will invariably roster that night put on buses and sent to Dubbo zoo – sure we will pay their shitty bill – they all want their overtime – but in my opinion they are not wanted or needed at the party bar a very small force of the few good cops that I know exist – oh and please leave ur sniffing mutts in the kennel Donna.
Interesting to see that the police are now in control of the street barricades and will determine when they are removed.
I continue to see more and more control of our community event being willingly handed to the NSW government.
Liz Dods, Marcus Bourget, Kirk Muddle. Your thoughts might be interesting here.
why do the cops get to march at all when they haven’t even applogised for bashing people to a pulp in the first mardi gras!
Please join the CAAH float to address your concerns about the polcie! https://www.facebook.com/events/207905072749281/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
This “Accord” does not address a fundamental problem with NSWPF: them treating and viewing groups of people as “threats”
So cute to see Michael and Barry holding hands xx
What about removing the stupid lock out laws for MG weekend??
May MG 2014 be celebrated without any “trouble”!
not enough what of the officers who assaulted mardi gras goers?
Good to know that acknowledge the ‘economic impact that Mardi Gras has on Sydney and as one of NSW’s most significant events’. Maybe they could have included an Oxford Street exclusion to the new laws regarding lockouts and 3am end of service or at the very least implemented them after Mardi Gras.