AHA opinion piece in the SMH today

The recent article in the smh by the AHA's John Thorpe AM contained many factually questionable statements but he did say one thing which was had a grain of truth attached for a change - though only an idiot would believe that $60,000/year poker machines aren't more attractive to a publican when a pub does have to make a choice due to space between a machine and a musician.

"Like the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, the hotel industry wants to respond to Sydney's evolving needs by creating different drinking environments. It is regulation that prohibits such activity, not gaming machines or flat screen televisions. Hotels find it difficult to employ live musicians because of noise complaints, fire regulations and council restrictions. It is not for a lack of space."

We'll have a full response to Mr Thorpe's fuzzy logic shortly meanwhile read the full article here.