Justin Hemmes: Make Sydney night-life great again
Sydney bar tsar Justin Hemmes applauds the NSW Government for creating the Lockout Inquiry but believes the city’s night-life can be reinvigorated without returning to the old days of mayhem on the streets.
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We applaud the NSW Government for creating the Lockout Inquiry, which represents an unprecedented opportunity for all sectors of the community and government to contribute to the reinvigoration of Sydney’s night time economy, bring fresh thinking for more effective and realistic governance, diversity and transport solutions.
The government’s review has the potential to ensure enormous flow-on effects to not only licensed premises, but to all businesses in Sydney’s CBD and the public at large.
Over the past five years, Sydney’s CBD has undergone a significant decline in its vibrancy and attraction to both locals and visitors alike.
No longer do we have a reputation as a ‘destination’ city on an international scale.
The people of Sydney and NSW have the opportunity to create a vibrant future for our city with a safe, fun and diverse culture that reflects the 24-hour energy of global cities such as Tokyo, London and New York.
The key to this revitalisation is allowing businesses, and especially hospitality venues, to trade 24 hours a day, thereby unleashing our city’s full potential for economic prosperity.
Sydney’s CBD is currently not taking full advantage of its location and temperate climate, nor its economic, social and cultural opportunities.
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The immediately recognisable ramifications of this underperformance are reduced employment opportunities, finite revenue opportunities for businesses, small and large, and a back seat on the world stage with a reputation as a boring and unsophisticated city, with limited attraction to visitors, businesses and investors.
This is certainly evidenced by a range of expert reports that have been prepared over the past two years, with Deloitte citing the fact that in the UK, the Night Time Economy (NTE) compromises 6 per cent of the nation’s economy, while in Australia it makes up only 3.8 per cent.
If the NTE in Australia was supported and nurtured, so that it matched the UK, the estimated value of the NTE in Greater Sydney could be $43.3 billion per annum.
We therefore believe that a “one shoe fits all” policy cannot work for both and that the two precincts should be “decoupled” with each subject to appropriately separate regulatory framework.
As a result of lockout laws, venues in the CBD close much earlier to conserve costs and after 10pm, it is it is difficult to find a venue within the CBD where you can simply have a coffee or enjoy a meal.
With customer levels post-midnight at an all-time low, CBD venues are closed and employment shifts are therefore reduced.
Many people want late night shift work, such as students who are at university during the day, and people who need second jobs.
These are people who need the funds to purchase homes, to raise their families, varying child care needs, to save and to travel — all are contributing to our economy, yet their employment opportunities are vastly curtailed as a result of the laws.
With no late night population in the CBD, other non-licensed businesses are not encouraged to remain open as there are no customers in the city.
Shops should be open for business, galleries and cultural centres should be open, more events should be scheduled — more people around creates a bigger demand for services, space and products.
More people equals more revenue equals a healthy economy. The current lockout laws regime punishes everyone, and does not target the few individuals who misbehave.
However the removal of the laws must ensure that the levels of alcohol related violence are minimised and that safety is maintained.
The revised laws must incorporate changes as to how alcohol related violence is assessed, recorded and penalised.
Our city of Sydney has matured. As a large hospitality owner, operator and employer in the CBD, we have seen first-hand over the past five years that mindless anti-social behaviour has been dealt with swiftly by police and punishments handed out to the offending individuals. It is going to be a mammoth job to properly reinvigorate Sydney’s night time economy and we recommend that the government appoint a Night Time Mayor. This is a common role in cities around the world.
The Night Time Mayor’s role would be to shape government policy and planning to create a vibrant night time economy while maintaining safety. Importantly, this role would include acting as a conduit between the regulatory bodies and night life businesses.
The night time economy is such an important part of our economy, worth an estimated $18 billion of business revenue.
Therefore, to ensure its success, a leader must be appointed whose mandate is to provide a cohesive representation of all stakeholder bodies, including police, licensing, business groups, local government.
Properly and legally managed, with the appropriate and practical statutory framework together with personal accountability, licensed venues will absolutely be at the forefront of the reinvigoration of Sydney’s night time economy.
Let’s open up Sydney’s CBD night time economy for trade. Let’s put this wonderful city back on the tourism map and let’s build a 24 hour city that we can all be proud of.
With the imminent opening of the multi-billion dollar light rail system and the pedestrianisation of George St, now is the time to return Sydney to a civilised and sophisticated world class city.
* Justin Hemmes is CEO of Merivale. This is an edited extract from his submission to the NSW Government’s inquiry into Sydney’s night time economy
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