Brisbane nightclubs slam new ID scanning laws

RED tape is threatening to shut down Brisbane’s vibrant night spots, with one venue revealing its doors would have to literally shut people out in the middle of a trade night due to new legislation.

Licensees say crippling costs and bureaucratic red tape threatens to shut down Brisbane’s vibrant night spots.

THE State Government’s controversial ID scanning regime has been labelled a “compete shambles” ahead of the July 1 implementation date.

Licensees say crippling costs and bureaucratic red tape threatens to shut down Brisbane’s vibrant night spots due to cumbersome “one size fits all” legislation.

Venues throughout Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley and CBD have told The Courier-Mail they will call last drinks on midweek trading because of the costs involved.

Legislation states a licenced security guard is required to work the machines, even for times when venues would not normally have a guard hired to work.

Budget modelling seen by The Courier-Mail for a small bar reveal an extra $2000 in costs per month for an additional security guard and ongoing costs of the scanning machine.

Billie-Jean Bray, 27, enjoys a wine at The Gresham Bar. General manager of the Gresham, Ryan Lane, has revealed new legislation will mean the venue has to shut people out in the middle of trading if his security staff needs to use the toilet. Picture: Liam Kidston.

The Queensland Hotels Association has put a “conservative cost” of $6 million statewide for all venues to install and run the ID scanning technology.

Ryan Lane, general manager of The Gresham, said the venue was still waiting on confirmation on certain aspects of the legislation from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation just 10 days out from the due date.

“We’re open until 3am so I have a crowd controller here every night from 10pm but the problem is if that guy needs to go to the bathroom, I either then have to send a manager or myself to the front door but I can’t allow entry,” he said.

“We’d effectively have to close our doors while they are away.”

OLGR confirmed the ruling, with a spokeswoman saying: “In an instance where the crowd controller is away, no one is to be admitted until that crowd controller is again in charge of scanning IDs.”

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath’s office defended the new legislation, saying venues were entitled to $4000 in funding to assist with the transition.

“In recent years there has been too much violence, and horrifically some people have lost their lives, due to alcohol-fuelled violence,” a spokeswoman said.

“ID scanners are designed to ensure a person with a banning order can’t enter a licensed venue.”

Opposition fair trading spokesman Jarrod Bleijie described the roll out as “another bungle”.

Licensees found to have allowed a patron to enter a venue after 10pm without having their ID scanned face fines in excess of $1200.