Alleged one-punch victim takes aim at Mike Baird
The Sydney Morning Herald
Leesha McKenny
February11,2016
A victim of an alleged one-punch attack has blasted Mike Baird over Sydney's controversial lockout laws, accusing the premier of killing the city's reputation and night life.
In an email to Mr Baird, shared more than 700 times since it was posted on Facebook on Wednesday evening, Mosman resident Max Hardwick-Morris said he was hospitalised after being "coward punched" on Australia Day.
Max Hardwick-Morris, pictured with friend, was targeted in an alleged late night attack on Australia Day. Photo: Facebook/Max Hardwick-Morris
Mr Hardwick-Morris, 21, told Fairfax Media that he had been waiting in line at Cremorne McDonald's at about 11pm when another man approached and allegedly punched both him and a friend, hospitalising both of them. He has no memory of the incident, which was captured on CCTV.
"I spent 5 days in hospital with concussion and a broken fibula that required surgery to implant a plate and 6 screws up the side of my leg," the email said.
"I write to you to express my distain [sic] with the manner in which you've recently attempted to defend your lock out policies, particularly with the upcoming review."
An X-ray photograph of Max Hardwick-Morris' broken leg, sustained in an alleged late night attack on Australia Day. Photo: Facebook/Max Hardwick-Morris
Mr Hardwick-Morris' post comes after Mr Baird used his own Facebook page to all but rule out changes to the legislation introduced in 2014 following the one-punch deaths of Daniel Christie and Thomas Kelly.
The Premier's lengthy post attracted thousands of responses, many of them critical.
Mr Hardwick-Morris' email similarly takes aim at Mr Baird's post, accusing him of using misleading statistics to support his argument.
The reforms, which do not apply to the area where Mr Hardwick-Morris was allegedly assaulted, restricted the sale of alcohol and operating hours for pubs and clubs in Sydney's centre.
Excluding Barangaroo and the Star Casino "NSW's most violent venue" from the lockout laws and making exemptions for pokie venues "begs so many questions to be asked about your government's agenda," Mr Hardwick-Morris adds.
"As a victim of Sydney's violence, with full knowledge that my incident could have resulted in my death, I hope my voice can be heard as I feel you've used the two unfortunate coward punches that resulted in deaths to further your political agenda."
The University of Sydney student told Fairfax Media his unique position as a victim of just such an alleged attack prompted him to pen the message, which puts him at odds with emergency service workers who have praised the laws for reducing crime rates.
"Exactly what Mike Baird's trying to stop is still happening," said Mr Hardwick-Morris.
Improving public transport and more police patrols were better ways to prevent alcohol-fuelled violence, he said. His perspective is also informed by a nine-month stint working at Cockle Bay bar Bungalow 8, he added.
"If everyone's locked out at the same time everyone's out on the street and you're causing what you're trying to prevent - just a bunch of people on the street who are drunk, who are angry about not being able to get home," he said.
Mr Hardwick-Morris is yet to receive a response from the Premier's office. Mr Baird declined to comment.
NSW Police confirmed that Mr Hardwick-Morris was a victim of an alleged Australia Day assault.
"Following investigations into this assault, a 29-year-old man was arrested on Monday 8 February 2016, and was charged at North Sydney Police Station with reckless grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray," a police spokeswoman said.