Foodies declare they would have ‘put their foot down’ to stop lockout laws

TWO of the mega-successful judges behind MasterChef Australia have launched an attack on Sydney’s controversial lockout laws, describing them as “bullshit”.

MasterChef presenters Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston take in the Bondi sea mist. Picture: Channel 10

TWO of the mega-successful judges behind MasterChef Australia have launched an attack on Sydney’s controversial lockout laws, describing them as “bullshit”.

Melbourne-based judges Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston said the laws, which prohibit people entering hotels, clubs and bars after 1.30am in much of central Sydney, have killed bar culture in the ­Harbour City.

The trio have made the show their own after a decade. Picture: Jay Town

“In fairness, we would never have let that happen if we’d been here,” Preston said while filming at Bondi restaurant Icebergs this week.

“We would have put our foot down, that’s just ridiculous.

“How can you link small bars with (violence). I think in 24 years of drinking in small bars in Melbourne, I have never seen a fight.”

Nightlife in traditionally lively areas such as Kings Cross has been affected by the laws. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Mehigan added: “Closing at 1am is bullshit. There’s nothing like rocking up to a whisky bar at 1am and they’re like ‘sorry, we’re closed’.”

TEN YEARS OF MASTERCHEF: HOW THEY DID IT

Sydney’s lockout laws were introduced by the state government in February 2014 to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.

Remember them? Eight contestants from NSW made the Masterchef cut in 2017.

Masterchef's 2017 winner Diana Chan opened a Malaysian-style hawker eatery in Melbourne. Picture: Rebecca Michael

The laws have since been relaxed for several venues, but 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks at bars, pubs and clubs in the Sydney CBD entertainment precinct remain in place for most establishments.

“When you’re paying $17 for a glass of wine, you’re unlikely to throw it in someone’s face,” said Preston.

Added Mehigan: “Closing at 1am is bullshit. There’s nothing like rocking up to a whisky bar at 1am and they’re like ‘sorry we’re closed’”.

Tim Talam, of West Pennant Hills, eventually scored an apron to be selected to the top 24 for Australia Season 10.

NSW MasterChef contestant and stay-at-home mum Sarah Clare, 33, with her three-year-old son Elvis at home in Lane Cove. Picture: Brett Costello

While the pair were not impressed by the change to bar culture, they were full of praise for the explosion of world-class restaurants in Sydney since the show moved to Melbourne after season four in 2013.

Only white people will have the audacity to tell you that that’s not the way to do something even though it has been done that way for decades and an entire culture eats it that way. https://t.co/8klfHtrYsL

— Dramalina (@rileytresjolie) April 2, 2018

“Certainly in the time since we were up here, the change in Sydney dining culture has been dramatic,” said Preston.

“When we arrived up here, there weren’t many bars — it was old-fashioned hotels, counter meals and pubs.

“The Devonshire and The Strawberry Hills hotel and now that explosion has well and truly taken hold.”

MasterChef Australia is filming the final weeks of its tenth season, which is on air now.