Tagliaferri moving on to geener fields

The Markets, the Murdoch’s and the Mayhem
Who is running the show down there?

For 30 years the Fremantle community, the council, the market management and the stall holders have had a successful and mutually supportive relationship. The Fremantle Markets have been one of the most popular shopping experiences in Australia and it has all come together and evolved effortlessly.

Since the Murdoch Jr takeover there has been nothing but aggravation, intimidation, litigation and now almost 150 small businesses or around 300 jobs are at risk, the magic formula is being bastardized and the markets are in a state of Mayhem.

Everyone is stuck between 2 leases; one is ill conceived and ineffective and the other is nothing more than a list of rules, rights and regulations which give exclusive power to the Murdoch management. The integrity of the markets, the security of the stall-holders and the consideration of the community have all been ignored.

Highly inflated and unfair rents have already seen businesses being forced to close. Those people have lost thousands of dollars in initial investment and thousands more in their inability to sell out. In effect, they have had their livelihoods legally stolen from them.

The most vulnerable are also the most interesting; the artists, the handmade and creative products, the unique and the quirky. These are not highly profitable businesses but they are the ones which draw in the crowds and keep them coming back.

The small business operators who are hanging on by a wish and a prayer are living in a state of relentless anxiety and many are just living week to week. Walking away will mean bankruptcy for many, staying might give others a chance to break even. There are a few who are actually subsidizing their shops at the moment in the hope that something will be done.

Richard Murphy tried to do something. Richard took up the challenge and ran the risk of persecution but also believed in speaking out against injustice. Richard took on the job as spokesman for the people. Volunteering hundreds of hours of his time and contributing a substantial amount of his own money - he begged the council to Listen. He predicted the consequences long before the deal was done – you didn’t listen. Richard was evicted. After 22years his successful business was obliterated and he has been left with Zero.

Mr Tagliaferri, are you listening now?

You have given us 18months of “I’ll look into it” and we are still waiting. You signed off on this agreement; you created this chaos and you didn’t even think to put yourself and your council into the driver’s seat! Who is running the show?

The repercussions of this will affect business and the community of Fremantle right across the board. If the stallholders accept the rent hikes it will raise the bar on commercial rent valuations throughout the CBD. With rent hikes comes price hikes.

You are changing the markets into a common shopping barn; risking hundreds of jobs, artificially inflating prices and leaving carnage in your wake. You have supported and secured the Murdoch management, thrown the hot potatoe to your chagrined colleagues and dashed out the back door, yelling, “Vote for me, I’m the man of the people.”

Richard Murphy is “The man of the people,” and you have allowed him to be sacrificed. The stall holders are the people and you are walking away from them. The community are the people and you are not listening to them but you are now calling on them to listen to you.

Mr Tagliaferri,
Go back to the drawing board, tear up the head lease and evict the Murdoch’s
Reinstate Richard Murphy
Compensate for the losses that have occured.
Protect and support the markets, the businesses and the community.
Honour your promises of secure tenure and fair market rent

Mr Tagliaferri,
LISTEN.