Women bans to remain at Melbourne's elite gentlemen's clubs

THE fight to open Melbourne's elite gents clubs to women has failed.

THE fight to open Melbourne's elite gents clubs to women has failed.

Despite years of campaigning against men-only venues such as the Melbourne and Athenaeum clubs in Collins St and the Savage Club in Bank Place, Attorney-General Rob Hulls has been forced to allow the clubs to maintain their bans on women.

He said the Government couldn't outlaw men-only clubs because of the Federal Sex Discrimination Act, which allowed an exception for single-sex clubs.

Ethnic and age group organisations will continue to be allowed to choose members, such as a Turkish club preferring Turkish members. But legislative changes will bar clubs from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.

"They will be able to continue to operate as single-sex clubs, but will have to make their membership rules publicly available, which will ensure greater transparency and reassure minority groups that they will not be victims of discrimination," Mr Hulls said.

Last year, the outspoken Attorney-General said the men-only clubs were "fast becoming an amusing relic", filled with "crusty, old fogeys and young fuddy-duddies".

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard even issued a call to arms, asking Governor-General Quentin Bryce to join her and lodge a membership application for a men's club.

In 1999, then premier Steve Bracks called for private men's clubs to allow female members to join.

The men-only clubs have counted among their members trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, Governor David de Kretser, Malcolm Fraser and Olympics administrator Kevan Gosper.