SYDNEY (Pacnews) — A Maori and a Samoan are among those testifying at a tribunal hearing where a Sydney bar owner admitted refusing patrons entry on racial grounds.
Malcolm McGuinness, the owner of Scruffy Murphy’s Irish pub, told the New South Wales Equal Opportunity Tribunal he had ordered security staff to follow the racist exclusion policy in 2005.
He claims the ban on patrons of Pacific island or Middle Eastern origin was to reduce a spate of violent gang-related incidents at the popular central city pub. The policy was scrapped last year.
Samoan Benji Tupou and Maori Marcellus Cook told the tribunal they were refused entry by security staff who were open about the reasons.
Tupou said it happened twice while he waited to enter the pub. The first time, he claims, a bouncer asked him what nationality he was.
“I’m Samoan or Niuean,” Tupou said he replied. The bouncer said: “Seriously boys, I don’t know how to say this, but you guys can’t come into the hotel.
“No Islanders or Lebanese,” the security guard added.
On the other attempt to enter, Tupou claims he was removed from the queue by a Polynesian bouncer who told him, “Yep, no islanders.”
McGuinness told the tribunal he didn’t see the policy as racist. “From my viewpoint it was not discriminating,” he said.
“Once we implemented this policy, assaults were reduced.” The hearing continues.