EDITORIAL: Sydney nights to come alive with new trading hours

SYDNEY at night is an ­enchanting place, with an exciting atmosphere of reverie unmatched by any other Australian cities and, indeed, few cities around the world.

Sydney at night is an ­enchanting place, with an exciting atmosphere of reverie unmatched by any other Australian cities and, indeed, few cities around the world. Part of this is due to Sydney’s spectacular urban geography, which allows harbour lights to dance on the water and streets to shine. And part is due to our people, who are not inclined to be shut-ins when the evening beckons.

As well, the evolution of our working lives, with many people now operating on global time­tables thanks to the internet, means more Sydney residents are active deep into the night.

A City of Sydney plan now aims to bring Australia’s social and business capital into line with these trends. Under the plan, shops would be permitted to remain open until 10pm seven days per week, live music venues would be encouraged and other zones now dormant at dark would come alive.

The key to the council’s plan, which is expected to be considered by the Greater Sydney Commission late in 2018, is the removal of red tape that requires inspections and permits for many late-night functions. The absence of permits would allow for greater spontaneity in the presentation of bands, shows and even book readings.

Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney Clover Moore.

“People want to live in a city with a diverse and exciting night-time economy with cultural events and activities for people of all ages and interests,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore told the Daily Telegraph. “They don’t want to live in or visit a city that is unsafe or that shuts down as soon as the sun goes down.”

The Lord Mayor is correct. Besides, especially with summer almost here, Sydney nights beg for engagement.

Considerable steps have already been taken to make our premier late-night district, Kings Cross, far safer and more hospitable even deep into the night. Opening other areas of Sydney to additional evening hours would most likely expand the economy and enhance our nights without presenting any associated dangers. Should you wish to examine the City of Sydney’s night-economy expansion plans, they will be available for public viewing from 24 October to 13 December. The council ­offices presently close at 6pm, but who knows, they could be open much later in a few years.

THE UGLY TRUTH OF INEQUALITY

The popular perception is that previous career-limiting attitudes towards women in Australia have given way to a more enlightened era. To an extent, this is true. But a recent survey finds more needs to be done. According to The Plan International, Aussie girls as young as 10 feel their chances of success are ultimately dependent on how attractive they are. Worse still, their confidence and ambitions decline as they get older and become more convinced of gender inequality. Clearly, whatever advances have been made to this point must be built upon or Australia may miss out on the benefits that come from rewarding merit.

ENERGY DEBT A SHOCKER

‘Energy debt’ is a phrase that should be completely unknown in Australia, in the same way that “pasta depletion” would be ­unfamiliar to Italians.

Australia has more available energy sources than just about any nation on earth. Our ­reserves of brown coal — used in Australia’s coal-fired power ­facilities — are estimated to be good for another 1000 years at present levels of extraction.

NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman, Janine Young.

And that’s before we even consider our abundance of black coal, natural gas and uranium.

Yet as matters stand, some 145,000 households and small businesses in NSW alone are in “energy debt”, with unpaid average amounts of $663 owed to power companies. Ten per cent of debtors owe more than $1500.

This situation is the energy equivalent of starving to death at a banquet. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman, Janine Young, told The Daily Telegraph that problems paying power bills had “become the norm” for financially vulnerable customers, whose complaints about high bills, rising debt and disconnections have increased by 21 per cent throughout autumn and winter. Politicians have made this mess, enjoying substantial pay increases all the while. And they wonder why Australians are so disenchanted by the political process.