New calls to scrap Adelaide’s controversial 3am lockout laws as West End businesses struggle

There’s a new push to scrap Adelaide’s controversial lockout laws, which critics say have killed the city’s night-life and actually made the CBD less safe.

Hindley St traders and industry leaders have renewed a push to scrap the city’s controversial lockout laws before Adelaide’s night-life becomes “extinct”.

The tough Late Night Code, introduced over a decade ago to tackle drunken violence in the city, especially in the West End, prohibits patron movement between licensed venues from 3.01am until 7am.

But critics have told a parliamentary committee that the laws have “killed” the CBD’s night-time economy, forcing a host of venues to close their doors and in some cases, made the city less safe.

They have called for the restrictive rules to be lifted, or at the very least, be reviewed by an independent commissioner.

Tony Tropeano, lawyer and longtime West End advocate, said the laws had unfairly penalised operators of licensed venues who are also battling rising costs, alcohol tax hikes and reduced consumer spending.

“Look how many places are for lease on Hindley St now? They’re empty. The Rosemont is empty, the old Downtown site is dead, quite a lot of places have shut down,” said Mr Tropeano, who gave evidence at the committee. “We need to protect local businesses.”

Hindley St traders and industry leaders say the lockout laws have hurt business on Hindley St. Picture Dean Martin

A series of late-night venues have shut abruptly in the last 18 months, including Fat Controller, Red Square, Enigma Bar, Super Cali, Precinct and Ancient World.

The Polites Group, which own several properties on Hindley St, called for an independent review into the lockout policy.

In a statement from spokesman, lawyer Greg Griffin, the group said Adelaide’s major entertainment strip had been “unfairly singled out for restrictions for too long”.

“It’s achieved nothing other than to force operators of licensed premises to lose trade for no good purpose, causing many of them to lose their businesses and livelihoods,” the statement said.

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Anna Moeller told the committee that the current laws – which only allow patrons to enter Adelaide Casino or an approved restaurant after 3am – prevented Adelaide from having a “vibrant, 24-hour economy”.

“No other state has them. Other states have had them and chose to revoke them, so one wonders, what do we know that they don’t?” she said.

Similar late-night rules were dumped in Sydney in 2022 after they damaged the city’s night-life.

Authorities say the laws have reduced rates of assaults, violence and other anti-social behaviour but Ms Moeller argued that they can “potentially cause more harm than good”.

“At least when people are in a venue, they are controlled and regulated. There is security,” she said. “As soon as they step outside and cannot come back in or go elsewhere, that’s when... you see some of the terrible anti-social and criminal behaviour has occurred as a result.”

The lockout was introduced amid rising Hindley Street violence. Picture: Morgan Sette

Driller Jet Armstrong, a former owner of now-closed Rundle St icon Sugar, said that the laws were unfair on clubs and likened their introduction to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“It might be extreme, but I could probably draw a similar comparison... the collective punishment of the Palestinian people because of the terrorism by Hamas is, I think we all agree, completely unfair and abhorrent,” he told the Select Committee on Local and Live Creative Venues.

Independent MP Frank Pangallo is a member of the committee, which will hand down its recommendations in coming months.

Mr Pangallo said the vast majority of speakers confirmed that the “archaic” laws were detrimental to the nightclub sector, which is on the verge of being killed off forever.

Patrons are banned from entering venues, such as on Hindley St, after 3am. Picture Dean Martin

“These lockout laws are pushing these businesses to extinction. That isn’t exaggeration, that’s coming through in the evidence at this committee,” he said.

“It’s nonsensical and there’s no evidence to show that it should remain in place.”

A SA Police spokesman said they support the existing lockout laws, which are a “valuable tool to assist with reducing anti-social behaviour”.

Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Brett Humphrey said the code was designed to support a “vibrant, thriving night-life in the CBD” while maintaining public safety.

He said a 2023 review found the laws had been successful in reducing alcohol-related harm and anti-social behaviour in the city.

Originally published as New calls to scrap Adelaide’s controversial 3am lockout laws as West End businesses struggle