LIQUOR Licensing officers have been slammed for gate-crashing a fundraiser for sick children at a Cairns restaurant.
The Brisbane-based inspectors launched a raid on Adelfia Greek Taverna on Thursday night during a charity auction to raise money for a new playground for the children's ward at the Cairns Base Hospital.
Restaurant director Danny Andre said he was issued with a notice relating to noise complaints.
"I was shocked," Mr Andre told The Weekend Post.
"They didn't do a decibel reading or anything."
Rock and Roll memorabilia, framed pictures of Hollywood stars of Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and Harry Potter and a framed guitar signed by Pink Floyd were among the items for auction to raise money for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
"It killed the atmosphere," said Mr Andre, whose brother pop star brother Peter is married British model and Page 3 girl Jordan.
"We could have made some more money for the foundation."
"I asked if I was going to get a fine and one of them said no and the other said to me, 'thank him because I was about to write you a fine'," Mr Andre said.
"They told us to finish the auction and to cancel the belly dancers so that is what we had to do. You should've seen the disappointment on their faces."
Hospital Foundation chairman Ken Chapman said it was mean spirited for anyone to complain about the noise when the restaurant and charity were involved in a worthy cause.
"It's not to be sneezed at," Mr Chapman said.
"I don't know if we'll be able to do it again next year.
"It seems like a bit of an over-reaction."
A Liquor Licensing spokeswoman said there had been more than one complaint about the noise and it was their job to investigate.
"They had no intention of closing the venue and they didn't stop the auction," she said.
"No fine was issued and the officer reminded them about their noise limits in relation to the outdoor area."
See our Peter Andre and Jordan picture gallery
