Free Speech Coalition tries to broker deal with council over banned speakers
Wednesday, 18 July 2018
The newly-formed Free Speech Coalition is trying to broker a deal with Auckland Council to reinstate an event planned by two controversial Canadian speakers.
The coalition has written to Mayor Phil Goff, councillors and the organisation, hoping to renegotiate the decision by a council agency to cancel the pair's booking of the Bruce Mason Centre for next month.
Council-owned venue manager, Auckland Live, cited security and health and safety grounds for cancelling the booking by right-wing speakers Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern, with Southern having previously been denied entry to the United Kingdom because of her views.
The coalition was formed and swiftly raised $90,000 largely in response to subsequent comments by Goff giving the incorrect impression he had banned the pair from council venues.
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The coalition intends to file papers on Wednesday seeking a judicial review of the legality of the cancellation, but has urged the council to reconsider and said the pair could still re-book flights and stage an Auckland event after a five-city Australian tour.
'We have legal advice that a court is likely at the least to order you to reconsider the decision, taking proper account of the information that the organisers were ready to provide if there had been proper notice and consultation,' wrote coalition members Jordan Williams and David Cumin.
'None of you have explained your reasons for the purported concerns, claimed as reasons for the decision,' they wrote.
The coalition said it would challenge the cancellation under the Bill of Rights and Human Rights Act.
Auckland Live announced on July 6 that it had taken the decision.
'Auckland Live continues its regular and ongoing assessments around hiring its venues to promoters of shows and events, to ensure everyone has the best and safest experience possible,' said director Robbie Macrae in a statement at the time.
The coalition said the promoter, Australian-based Axiomatic Media, could be flexible and if Takapuna's Bruce Mason Centre had since been booked, another Auckland Live venue catering for at least 800 patrons could do.
It said the promoter had its own four-strong security team, two of whom would work as bodyguards for the pair.
They would meet the cost of any in-venue security, which on the Australian leg ranged from $A,2500 to $A9,000, as well as liaising with police.
Tickets for Molyneux and Southern's Australian fixtures range from $79 for unallocated seating, $199 for a meet and greet session for 40 guests, while an intimate dinner with the pair would cost $749.
The coalition said while the Auckland venue contracts specify a health and safety plan must be lodged 10 days ahead of an event, the promoter could engage immediately with the council to do so.
The council has made no comment yet on the letter.