Lockout laws: Baird to relax closing times for Sydney venues

LABOR leader Luke Foley says Sydney needs a ‘night-time mayor’ and all night transport, as Premier Mike Baird today announced the controversial lockout regime has been relaxed.

Kings Cross has been affected by the lockout laws. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

SYDNEY’S controversial lockout regime has been relaxed, with Premier Mike Baird signalling the laws could be even further loosened in coming years.

Closing times in the CBD have been changed from 3am to 3:30am and lockout times are being moved from 1:30am to 2am, providing live entertainment is provided at venues.

NSW Premier Mike Baird makes the announcement this morning. Picture Kym Smith

Opposition Leader Luke Foley did not criticise Mr Baird’s announcement of the half-hour changes to the lockout laws, but accused him of a broader “neglect of boosting Sydney’s night-life”, saying “it’s not all about people spewing up in the Cross at 3am”.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley wants a night-time mayor to be brought in for Sydney.

“We’ve always said that those restrictions in the Cross, in the CBD, are a minimum community standard for known trouble spots,” Mr Foley said.

“We’ve never fought those. But what we do say is that there are a whole lot of other things that the government could and should be doing to enhance Sydney’s night life and night-time economy. We want to see a night-time mayor, we want to see all-night transport on weekends being trialled, as they are in Melbourne.”

Mr Foley also accused the National Party of capitulating to Mr Baird and the Liberals on the takeaway alcohol changes, saying it should have stuck to its guns on sales until midnight in the bush, as Mr Grant had previously flagged as being his preference.

Police Minister Troy Grant was adamant that the live music provisions would not allow strip clubs to exploit them as loopholes to remain open.

He pointed to award-winning electronic artist Flume as an example of live music.

Takeaway and home delivery alcohol sales will end at 11pm across the state, pushed back from 10pm.

The changes are in response to the Callinan review’s findings and recommendations.

Changes based on regulation will come into effect in January, though the government is still determining a date.

What a joke. A 30 minute relaxation is an insult to businesses and Sydney's global status. Mike Baird is in for a rough ride. https://t.co/EeuklMgxc3

— Keep Sydney Open (@KeepSydneyOpen) December 7, 2016

The state government will also change the definition of a small bar so that the capacity it is based on will be 100 instead of 60. There will be “automatic extended trading to 2am for small bars in the CDB and Kings Cross”.

The liquor licence freeze in the CBD and Kings Cross will be extended to mid-2018, “with some minor changes to help businesses improve their offering to customers”.

Mandatory ID scanners will be kept in the Cross.

Warren’s view.

Mr Baird said there would be an annual review of statistics that would determine whether the government considered further relaxations.

“We do want this to be dynamic,” he said.

“If we see an uptick in violence, there is obviously an option to revert to where we were. But at the same time, if we continue to see improvements in violence or maintenance of violence at levels where it’s currently at, that gives us capacity to further liberalise these laws.

“We want to ensure that we continue to listen.”

Asked whether he was leaving on the table the prospect of reverting to pre-lockout law rules if the stats showed such a move would be fine, the Premier said: “Of course — if there is genuine continued improvement.”

The lockout laws have meant that inner city suburbs unaffected by the early closing times like Newtown are benefiting. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Mr Baird said the relaxation of the laws was about keeping the city safe but also allowing revellers to enjoy it.

“We want a vibrant night life in Sydney but we also want it to be safe,” he said.

“We want to ensure that as people go about and enjoy this great city, that it is a safe place to be.”

But AMA NSW President, Professor Brad Frankum, accused the government of opening the door to more violence by changing restrictions around takeaway alcohol, slamming the relaxation of the laws as a mistake.

“The Callinan recommendations regarding the lockout laws and closing times for pubs and clubs in inner Sydney are well-reasoned,” Prof Frankum said.

“They are a compromise solution that will ensure people can seek entertainment, while reducing the threat of alcohol-fuelled violence.

“However, extending opening hours for bottle shops to 11pm and home delivery to midnight is another matter.

“There is clear international evidence showing that availability of alcohol is linked with violence.”

St Vincent’s Hospital’s director of alcohol and drug services, Associate Professor Nadine Ezard, said the organisation was also concerned about the 11pm bottle shop rule.

“While we accept the decision to trial an extension by half an hour, the lockout and last drinks times for venues offering genuine live music in Sydney’s CBD and Kings Cross — as recommended by Justice Callinan — we’re concerned by the decision to extend bottle shop closures by an hour,” she said. “Extending the hours when alcohol can be purchased increases the number and severity of alcohol-related problems. Conversely, a reduction in these hours can contribute to a decrease in these same problems.

“Our Hospital over the past two years is clear evidence of that. We’ve seen a 44 per cent decrease in trauma admissions to ICU involving alcohol-related assaults. There is a weight of evidence linking store-bought alcohol with alcohol-related violence. We hope it’s not the case but we are concerned that relaxing the bottle shop closing times creates a greater risk of alcohol-related violence, particularly family violence.”