Open doors, 72-hour party precincts on Brisbane council agenda

An alternative to costly ID scanners and additional security in Brisbane’s Safe Night Precincts will be investigated by Brisbane City Council after the closure of The Zoo.

The council’s new Nighttime Economy Advisory Group will meet on Thursday to make proposals to the Queensland government in the hope Brisbane will have a 24-hour economy ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Among the attendees will be the owner of The Triffid and Fortitude Music Hall, John Collins, and Luke Fraser from Howard Smith Wharves. The Queensland Hotels Association will be represented, along with local traders and operators from across the city.

Brisbane nightlife in Fortitude Valley. Some businesses say it is time to review Brisbane’s Safe City Precincts in the lead up to the 2032 Games.Credit: Paul Harris

With the government preparing to review the rules around Safe Night Precincts this year, Brisbane Deputy Mayor Krista Adams said the council wanted to ease the regulatory burden on operators as soon as possible.

“It will only be baby steps, but it is going to be interesting to see what we can develop,” Adams said.

“[Making the precincts operate] 24 hours a day seven days a week - 24/7 - might be a stretch, but 24/3? That would be nice.”

Adams said the shock closure of Fortitude Valley venue The Zoo was “the canary in the coal mine” for operators in Safe Night Precincts.

“The owners are facing a perfect storm of challenges which are forcing these changes,” she said.

“Insurance costs doubling, fewer people going out to see gigs, sales of alcohol have fallen off a cliff and things like security and ID scanners just add to the expense list to keep doors open.”

Amid concerns over alcohol-fuelled violence, Safe Night Precincts were flagged by the LNP government in 2014 and introduced by the Labor government in 2016, with lock-out laws coming into effect in 2017.

Are venues being asked to provide too much security and unnecessary costs? Brisbane City Council wants to provide advice to the Queensland Government.

ID scanners have been used to identify banned patrons and respond to assaults and antisocial behaviour. However, operators have repeatedly complained of losing customers while having to pay for the extra security.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has repeatedly called for rules to be changed to stimulate the local economy and boost tourism, particularly in the CBD and Fortitude Valley.

Adams said operators had told her the impost of ID scanners should be left to poorly performing venues, not all venues in the precincts as is currently the case.

“It doesn’t make sense, and it hasn’t made sense for a long time. It needs to be reviewed,” she said.

“Each one of them are in furious agreement that Brisbane and Queensland are being left behind when it comes to supporting our nighttime economy.”

There are now 15 Safe Night Precincts operating in Queensland, but Brisbane City Council is focussed only on the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Bank.

While smaller venues are increasingly concerned about their viability, Adams acknowledged public safety remained “paramount”.

“But we have to look at other ways we can provide a safe, open and welcoming environment at all times.”

Under the legislation, Safe Night Precincts should be reviewed every three years, though the government is only looking to undertake the first major review this year. A new role of nightlife economy commissioner has also been floated.

A 2019 study by the University of Queensland found the new laws reduced the rate of assaults but people began drinking at home before leaving for the venues.

Comment has been sought from the government. Since the precincts were established, the government has also given police additional powers to prevent and respond to knife crime.