Vic: Men-only club a "haven" for members

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2009
Vic: Men-only club a "haven" for members

MELBOURNE, Aug 6 AAP - The Melbourne Club has asked a Victorian parliamentary committee
to help it retain its all-male membership so it can remain a "haven for relaxed social
discourse".

The Age newspaper said the exclusive Collins Street club argued in a submission to
the committee that its membership policy allowed members a brief respite from the pressures
of life.

"The club remains as it has always been, a haven for relaxed social discourse and as
a means of getting away, if but briefly, from day-to-day responsibilities," the submission,
signed by club president Bill Shelton, said.

At the moment, private clubs are automatically exempt from equal opportunity laws but
Attorney-General Rob Hulls has indicated he would prefer the situation to change.

The parliament's scrutiny of acts and regulations committee is reviewing exemptions
under the equal opportunity laws.

It is considering lifting the private club exemption and allowing the Victorian Equal
Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to initiate its own anti-discrimination actions,
the newspaper said.

While reserving its right to a male-only membership, the club praised the efforts of
both Labor and the coalition for their anti-discrimination achievements over the years.

Noel Bushnell, a member of the male-only Savage Club, called on the committee not to
recommend changes to the law.

"There must be more important things to look at than the doings of a few gents over
lunch," he said in his submission.

The Savage Club admits women as guests after 4.30pm, the newspaper said.

AAP jrd/jl/

KEYWORD: DISCRIMINATION

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.