‘Enough’s enough’: SEN boss Craig Hutchison blasts attacks on Melbourne bars
SEN boss Craig Hutchison has condemned a spate of attacks on Melbourne’s bars and restaurants, warning the “soul” of the city is under threat and urging residents to “rise up and not stand for it.” In a 10-minute segment on The Sounding Board with co-host Damian Barrett, Hutchison said he was outraged by what he described as crime gangs targeting hospitality venues across the city.
Recent incidents have included South Yarra institution France-Soir and shots fired at The Emerson.
“When did we not, as Melburnians, say enough’s enough on this stuff?” Hutchison said, adding that the community and media had become desensitised to violence occurring “blocks from our own homes.” He alleged some venues were being subjected to standover tactics and pressured to buy liquor from distributors they did not want, with threats that their businesses would be burned down if they refused.
“Our city is built upon entertainment,” he said. “Its bar culture, its restaurants are the envy of the rest of the country… It’s the soul of who our city is. The fact that very soul is getting attacked by crime figures who largely hire young people is absolutely outrageous.” Hutchison praised police but argued they need more support, and said the government should be tougher.
“I don’t know the answer but I just don’t want to stand for it,” he said, adding that anyone who “go[es] near one of our bars, restaurants or businesses” should be “absolutely smashed by the courts and the police system” with “no respite.” He said the escalation into suburban areas was particularly alarming, citing pubs and restaurants “in the heart of where people and breathe and raise their kids.” Hutchison described the situation as hard to comprehend and expressed disappointment that the city was having to endure it.
Neither police nor government responses were detailed in the segment, but Hutchison’s remarks reflect rising concern in Melbourne’s hospitality community after a series of high-profile incidents.