The Azure Reaction...
Ah... so as the dust settles around the wreck that will be the Azure aftermath we start to see the rumors and truths of what happened last night come to light.
This was my first Azure party (which I will post about in a more possitive light tomorrow) so I was a little confused when I noticed the fade out at exactly 9pm last night.
For me the questions keep coming.....
But first the quick background.
Azure is an outdoors party held on the foreshore of the majestic Sydney harbor overlooking the two sides of the city, the opera house and the harbor bridge. Whilst a completely separate entity to the Mardi Gras organisation the event is held the weekend before and some might say a highlight, un-missable party.
First suggestions of trouble came as people streamed through the front gates having passed by Police drug sniffer dogs to find more dogs inside the party working the assembling crowds.
The party went on until 9pm when the music stopped under a court order. The story unravels from there.....
So the questions-----
What does this mean for the main Mardi Gras events??
In my mind, nothing will stop the drugs at what may be called the largest series of dance parties in the southern hemisphere. So can we expect a similar pre-midnight shutdown of the venues?
I also can't help but wonder when the organisers knew about the court order? Did they know the show was going to be shutdown earlier that afternoon? Did they know sometime Last week?
Why did the music levels fall do dramatically at 6pm? The sound levels dropped so low you couldn't hear the words in the songs.... It seemed weird. Of course when Shigeki's set started the sound levels went all the way back up to 'fuking rocked out' (which I believe is just after the '10' on the volume dial)
What kind of backlash are we going to see from the Gay community towards whomever turns out to be the villain in this instance? It shall be interesting to see what kind of actions the powers that be take in relation to parties of the straighter variety.
Although I really do think that this is really what caused it all. I do know that the risk assessment for Sounds on Sunday (where one person died of drug related complications) called for a single police officer to be provided by NSW police. This may be an ass covering reaction from the powers.
I think this interview with Ray Hadley may have been the catalyst for this reaction. Ray Hadley is going for blood on this and I think the Police and NSW Government could not afford to loose face with a media personality with such power and influence held by Ray Hadley.
Listen to the interview
here.
The interesting part comes about half way through when Ray Hadley interviews Phil Rodgerson, Detective Superintendent for NSW Police. Ray rips this guy to strips.In the light of this media attention, the Government couldn't let the image of non-action continue. They needed to react somehow. Whether this was the appropriate action is yet to be seen.
posted by NarcissusAU @ 3:50 PM
5 Comments:
Curiouser and curiouser. I am waiting with bated breath to see what happens over there. Especially since Brenton is in the Mardis Gras Parade this year.
I think your assessment is generally right but, based on this interview, there were far more than one police officer and lots of other security at the event.
Also it's really important to acknowledge that Annabelle did not die at the event as you have said but at someone's home. The safest place to be drug affected is a patrolled event, especially a well run one with expert medical assistance available - Mardi Gras is the gold standard. It is more dangerous to take drugs at home and especially to be alone whilst still drug affected.
Sue, you don't need to worry....Brenton's so cute. Nobody could hurt him....
And Kathy, you are absolutly right and I agree! The best and safest place to take risks like these are around people who know what they are doing. That was actually my first concern when we got kicked out of Azure. I got all my 'less then sober' mates together so I could watch them all... because outside the party there was nothing to protect them.... It was a little concerning.
I think this was a whole election show of force. I doubt that the police would shut down Mardi Gras..I mean the City of Sydney is a "partner" of the event. Everyone knows a lot of drug use takes place at any dance party..straight or gay!
There are lots of good reasons for the police not to shut down Mardi or do a large raid but no guarantees and a presence seems likely. Also lots of medical incidents could force their hand and/or endanger future events. I hope people are careful in what and how they use including staying clear of drugs responsible for problems in the past like G - for their own sakes and all our sakes. MG is to precious to lose.
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