We love sport – even more when it’s free. But not when it’s a safety risk. 

As the union representing Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co) staff who manage Federation Square, we know they take the health and safety concerns of our members and the Victorian public seriously. The CPSU Vic supports their decision to prioritise safety. 

If MAP Co believes an event is unsafe, they are obligated under Victorian health and safety law to act. If they make the extraordinary decision to cancel, it is with good reason.

This is not a small issue like the Premier would have us believe. Federation Square is unique, and for large-crowd events has particular health and safety challenges that must be managed. 

We will continue to work closely with our members and will act accordingly if staff or the public are put at risk.

At previous match screenings we have seen injuries to members of the public and staff including broken bones, and fires due to smuggled flares. Amyl and the Sniffers’ last minute concert cancellation was due to serious risk of crowd crush. 

We want people to come together and celebrate, but these events don’t magically happen. Public servants do this work, which the Allan Government has long failed to properly resource. It speaks volumes that the Premier’s captain’s call required her to commit extra resources to make it happen. 

These events draw very large, passionate crowds that require immense planning and resourcing to deliver safely. The small team at MAP Co do this work out of business hours and often through unpaid overtime, professionally and in line with the law.

Public servants share the passion of fans and want to support these moments, but our members cannot do so without proper resourcing. It’s disingenuous for the Premier to play the hero when her government caused the problem in the first place.

ENDS

Media Contact: media@cpsuvic.org