Petition launched to ban Matthew Leveson's ex from Brisbane clubs

Brisbane's gay community is campaigning to have Michael Atkins banned from the city's nightclubs amid questions over his role in the 2007 disappearance of his former partner Matthew Leveson in Sydney.

Two years ago Mr Atkins, 53, was banned from The Beat Megaclub in the Fortitude Valley and more than 500 people have now signed a change.org petition to make the ban Brisbane-wide, The Courier Mail reports.

Last week the search for Mr Leveson's body was called off after information provided by Mr Atkins into led police to excavate bushland at the Royal National Park in Sydney's south.

They had been led to the scrubby patch of land by Mr Leveson's former boyfriend Mr Atkins, whose hopes of avoiding prosecution for perjury and contempt of court had rested on police finding the body.

The Queensland man was acquitted of Mr Leveson's murder in 2009 but was recently questioned during an ongoing coronial inquest into the then 20-year-old's disappearance .

James Vasilic, who launched the petition, wrote that it was "affirmative action for the beautiful Leveson family and Matt's friends, who have been so brave in the face of adversity over the past 9yrs".

"Mr Atkins may have returned to his old life, and his pool parties, but banning him from gay venues such as The Beat and others around Australia will ensure it will never be quite the same for him again," Mr Vasilic wrote.

"All private venue entry rights are at the owner's discretion so the more support we can garner, the better chance we have of ensuring Michael Atkins won't be welcome in his favourite playgrounds.

"It is unfair that this guy is allowed to have fun shopping in Aldi, work out at the gym nearby, and go to work, whilst Matt’s family have spent days still looking for him in the Royal National Park."

The coronial inquiry into Matthew Leveson's disappearance will resume next year.