Words by Rachel Short   Established just before the last state election in 2010, Music Victoria was born from a desperate need to cure the ills that the government and liquor licensing board were causing for live music in Victoria. Patrick Donovan, Music Victoria’s CEO, has long been a true devotee to Melbourne’s music culture. Before being appointed as the CEO in 2010, he was a music writer at The Age for fifteen years and has interviewed many musical legends including Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, David Bowie and Lou Reed. He also led the campaign that re-named Cherry Bar’s street location to ACDC lane in 2004. Music Victoria submitted their first ‘white paper’ in 2012, which was called ‘The Case for Regulatory Reform’. It addressed the initial plans for the Agent of Change clause and the banning of all age gigs as well as updating building planning codes and the EPA’s review of noise standards that hadn’t been updated in twenty-five years. In the two years since, the government has fixed everything that Music Victoria has asked them to. Perhaps the most important is the introduction of the Agent of Change clause, which means that all venues will … Continue reading KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR