An entity as complex as The Queen Victoria Market deserves more than a quick news grab but inevitably that is what we will be subjected to tonight. Some of the comments in a Herald Sun editorial today are true, some are stretching the truth, and at least one is down right embarrassing.
For those who have somehow been cut off from media this morning this all relates to comments by trader (or more correctly "son of a trader"), Jim Antonopolous. Jim has questioned the influx of cheap items into the market and in an embarrassing error of judgement suggested that one group of traders was particularly responsible for this issue. Without dwelling on a non-issue let's just say this market has been built on the contributions of a wide range of nationalities, particularly since WWII with Polish, Russian, Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Afghani and other groups adding to the rich fabric of one of the world's great public retail markets.
Now, let's get back to the real issues which are to do with making this market a better place for its customers, traders and owners. The editorial did get one thing right - we don't have to wait for a complete renewal to start making our market a better place. Presumably this is what Jim had in mind when he contacted the Herald Sun.