Common ground in Kings Cross: [3 All-round Metro Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 21 Jan 2004: 4.
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Abstract
Sebastian, who like other Kings Cross bouncers did not want to give his second name, said the clients could be a lawyer, politician or sports person, but when they were drunk they thought they were boxer Mike Tyson. He had been hit over the head with bottles and had had knifes pulled on him. “Hookesy fell and died; it was very unlucky for both,” he said. “People want to take swipes at us. We have a dangerous job. The whole thing with Hookesy was just unlucky.”
Another bouncer, Stuart from Stripperama, said the incident with [David Hookes] was unfortunate for the bouncer because he was in a position of responsibility. He said some people got very violent and you had to be firm with them.
Of the Hookes incident he said: “I think it is unfortunate for both parties; accidents happen. As a bouncer some people get rough with you. I think it is unfortunate for the bouncer.”
Full Text
THE bouncers of Kings Cross, Australia’s most infamous nightclub district, are united in their view that the death of David Hookes was an accident that reflected the dangerous nature of their jobs.
Already trained, licensed, regulated and having had to do first- aid courses, they do not think a national crackdown on bouncers will make any difference to the rough-and-tumble nature of their jobs — dealing with drunks. Sebastian, at Porky’s, which offers “Live Girls Girls Girls”, said he had been “working the doors” for 20 years and believed the customers who caused the most trouble were thedrunkest ones.
“Sometimes a punch can go wrong,” he said. “It’s always the drunkest person (who) causes trouble. They try to fight. We don’t want to kill people.”
Sebastian, who like other Kings Cross bouncers did not want to give his second name, said the clients could be a lawyer, politician or sports person, but when they were drunk they thought they were boxer Mike Tyson. He had been hit over the head with bottles and had had knifes pulled on him. “Hookesy fell and died; it was very unlucky for both,” he said. “People want to take swipes at us. We have a dangerous job. The whole thing with Hookesy was just unlucky.”
Jonathan, at Playbirds, said Hookes did a lot for the country, but no one knew the full circumstance of his death. If he had not been famous, no one would have cared.
He said if there had been excessive force then that was not appropriate. But if the bouncer was defending himself, that was a different issue.
Jonathan said the lack of proper security at many nightclubs and pubs, where only a couple of bouncers were assigned to control several hundred people, was simply unfair on the bouncers and the owners should share some of the blame.
“We are not killers,” he said. “We are just doing our best.”
Moe, at the newly renovated The Bourbon, said he was concerned the Hookes incident would give bouncers a bad reputation.
“Not all bouncers are like that,” he said. “You have to use your mind before you get physical. It is not going to worry me if they crack down on the industry, as long as people do their job properly.”
One bouncer at 24-hour pub The Empire said most people would leave when asked, but some nights there was a lot of trouble.
He had to throw 30 people out one night last week. “There were drunk blokes fighting, people abusing bar staff. I had two people stealing drinks from behind the bar,” he said. “It is a tough job. It will get harder now.”
Another bouncer, Stuart from Stripperama, said the incident with Hookes was unfortunate for the bouncer because he was in a position of responsibility. He said some people got very violent and you had to be firm with them.
Of the Hookes incident he said: “I think it is unfortunate for both parties; accidents happen. As a bouncer some people get rough with you. I think it is unfortunate for the bouncer.”