The Victorian regulator has taken disciplinary action against Melbourne’s Dreams Gentlemen’s Club for multiple liquor licence breaches, in response to a female worker’s death in late 2016.
Employee Stacey Michelle Tierney had been drinking in the basement of the venue with several other staff members, from 5-10 am on Sunday, 18 December 2016.
Tragically, she was found dead at the venue. Pathology reports later determined cause of death as ‘multidrug toxicity’.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) held a public inquiry last month and established the following breaches against the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998:
- supply liquor outside of trading hours
- supply liquor to intoxicated persons
- permit drunken persons to be on licensed premises
- fail to adequately supervise
- fail to adequately develop house rules
- suitability of licensee
The club’s licensee, Aparo Management Enterprises P/L was fined $28k, to be paid within three months, and additional conditions were imposed on the club’s late-night (general) licence, including the need for a 24-hour alarm to notify company director Salvatore Aparo if the alarm isn’t set within two hours of closing, and an independent risk management consultant to conduct quarterly written reviews.
Management who were present during the incident have been disqualified from being involved in the management of any licensed premises – Stephen Kyriacou (GM) and Tomas Mesfun (recruitment co-ordinator) for 12 months, and Giuseppe Crupi (manager on duty) for three months.
VGCCC Commissioner Danielle Huntersmith offered the department’s condolences to the woman’s family and said the decision to take disciplinary action was “very considered” and reflects the failures of the licensee and management to deliver on their duty of care.
“Management and staff regularly consumed alcohol in the Manager’s Lounge and there were no systems in place to control the removal and consumption of alcohol, which contributed to the misuse and abuse of alcohol,” says Huntersmith.
The Commission did acknowledge Aparo’s remorse and active involvement in the business since 2017, including implementing practises, policies and procedures to protect staff and patrons, although it applied some culpability.
“The Commission found the Director, although he wasn’t present during the incident, failed to adequately oversee his management team and at the time of the incident, the licensee was unsuitable to hold a liquor licence.”
