Business leader fears decay of Kings Cross will continue despite proposed lockout law changes
‘What’s the incentive?’ The chair of King Cross’ business partnership has said the recommendation not to scrap the lockouts in the precinct would create an uneven playing field.
Central Sydney
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The head of business owners in Potts Point believes a recommendation not to lift lockout laws in Kings Cross will continue the famous strip’s “decay”.
Carrington Brigham, chair of the Potts Point Partnership, said Monday’s release of a parliamentary report in Sydney’s night time economy was a “mixed bag” for the Cross.
Mr Brigham welcomed a recommendation to wind back restrictive ID scanner laws in the district, which would be in place only on Friday and Saturday nights if adopted into law.
But a recommendation to keep controversial lock out laws in what was once the city’s party precinct — while relaxing them everywhere else — without a detailed plan for Kings Cross would create an uneven playing field, he said.
“The decision means the cross will decay for another 12 months,” he said. “What is the incentive to bring people back to that strip?
“The perception is that it is now the only precinct in the country with stringent lockout and alcohol restrictions in place.
“People can just take a hop, skip and a jump to the other side of the Coke sign and party all night long.”
Despite finding in favour of scrapping the lock out laws in the CBD and Darlinghurst, the report into Sydney’s night time economy found “further analysis” was needed before the Cross could follow suit.
“(The lock outs) were effective in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence, but also reduced foot traffic in the Kings Cross area,” the report states.
“However, Kings Cross is not yet sufficiently changed to warrant a complete reversal.”
The committee, including Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, heard during the inquiry that based on current conditions on the strip it was likely that there would be a return to high levels of alcohol fuelled violence seen the lock outs were introduced.
Chair NSW Liberal MLC Natalie Ward said that advice weighed heavily on the report’s recommendations.
“No one wants to return to the days of Kings Cross in 2014 and our report is absolutely cognisant of that,” Ms Ward said on Monday.
St Vincent’s Hospital and its emergency department director Associate Professor Paul Preisz have been firmly against any repeal of the lock outs or 3am last drink rules in Sydney.
“All the evidence tells us, for every extra hour alcohol is made more accessible there’s an associated increase in harms, including alcohol-related violence,” he said.
There has been a 52.8 per cent drop in non-domestic assaults in the Kings Cross precinct since 2014, according to the Bureau of Crime Research and Statistics — or 1021 fewer incidents.
The committee recommended a pathway for venues to transfer licenses elsewhere should be investigated in order to reduce the high density of bars and clubs in the precinct.
But Mr Brigham said that was unlikely to work, claiming councils would baulk at taking on outdated lifetime licenses.
“Business that have abided by the rules (over the past five years) are still being punished,” he said.
“Also at the same time, (the report) falls short of an opportunity to put a plan in place for reforming the cross.”
