Lockout laws set to be scrapped in Kings Cross but will be reviewed

Staff at one hospital fear an increase in alcohol-fuelled violence once Sydney’s controversial lockout laws are scrapped.

The last of Sydney’s controversial lockout laws are set to be scrapped, seven years after they were introduced to combat alcohol-fuelled violence.

But NSW government ministers have warned they will not hesitate to reinstate them if things deteriorate in Kings Cross.

The lockout laws were eased in other parts of Sydney’s CBD last year, but from March 8 venues in Kings Cross – such as pubs, bars and nightclubs – will again be able to accept patrons after 1.30am.

The curfew was among several laws introduced in February 2014 in response to the one-punch killings of two teenagers, Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie, in separate attacks in the busy night-life district.

Although the laws were unpopular with the night-life industry, government officials said they had been effective and could be reinstated if needed.

Police Minister David Elliott warned that police would still be out in force in the area.

“This is not a green light for the criminal elements to come back to the Cross. This is not a green light to have dodgy operators come back to the Cross,” he said.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said “between 2014 and 2019 there was a rapid de-escalation of crime”.

Kings Cross was once the heart of Sydney’s night-life economy. Picture: Adam Taylor

Licensed venues will also be able to serve cocktails, shots and allow drinking out of glass (instead of plastic cups), while the “last drinks” rule will remain, but it will be moved to 3.30am.

However, nearby St Vincent’s Hospital staff said the scrapping of the lockouts increased their concerns of a surge in alcohol-fuelled violence.

“Our view on the risks and damage caused by excessive alcohol intake … remains unchanged,” hospital spokesman David Faktor told NCA NewsWire.

“Once the pandemic is in our rear-vision mirror and the crowds return to night-life in Kings Cross and the CBD, we‘ll be monitoring very closely whether there’s any corresponding increase in alcohol-related harms at our emergency department, and we’ll keep the government informed of any developments.”

The changes will be reviewed in 12 months after they come into effect.

The laws were highly contentious when introduced in 2014 by then NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, with bar and club owners and music industry workers accusing the government of ripping the night-life economy out of the Kings Cross precinct.

World Bar and Candy's night clubs were put up for sale in 2019. Picture: Adam Yip

In 2019, a parliamentary inquiry found NSW could have lost $16bn in economic activity because of the lockout laws.

Mr Dominello said he wanted Kings Cross to become a more “sophisticated” neighbourhood going forward.

“I don‘t think it’s going to go back to the red light districts because that’s what we don’t want it to go back to,” he said.

“I want more small bars, more restaurants, more cafes, a handful of nightclubs as well, but predominantly we want venues where families can go and have a good time.”