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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/17/queensland-lockout-laws-set-to-pass-after-deal-with-katter-party-mps
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| Queensland lockout laws set to pass after deal with Katter party MPs | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Queensland is set to adopt stricter lockout laws – with further moves to allow courts to ban drug offenders from entertainment precincts – under a deal struck by the Palaszczuk government with Katter’s Australian party (KAP). | Queensland is set to adopt stricter lockout laws – with further moves to allow courts to ban drug offenders from entertainment precincts – under a deal struck by the Palaszczuk government with Katter’s Australian party (KAP). |
| The Labor minority government announced on Wednesday that it had secured the support of the two KAP crossbenchers for its “tackling alcohol-fuelled violence” bill, with a statewide closure of licensed venues from 2am to be enforced from July. | The Labor minority government announced on Wednesday that it had secured the support of the two KAP crossbenchers for its “tackling alcohol-fuelled violence” bill, with a statewide closure of licensed venues from 2am to be enforced from July. |
| Nightclubs and bars in city entertainment precincts, such as Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, will be forced to serve “last drinks” by 3am and liquor shots by midnight, with a 1am lockout or “one-way door” to apply from February 2017. | Nightclubs and bars in city entertainment precincts, such as Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, will be forced to serve “last drinks” by 3am and liquor shots by midnight, with a 1am lockout or “one-way door” to apply from February 2017. |
| The Palaszczuk government’s last minute success in gaining passage for laws curtailing the late night alcohol trade – amid opposition from the local music industry, the Liberal National party and the Labor MP turned independent, Billy Gordon – comes after renewed backlash to similar measures in New South Wales. | The Palaszczuk government’s last minute success in gaining passage for laws curtailing the late night alcohol trade – amid opposition from the local music industry, the Liberal National party and the Labor MP turned independent, Billy Gordon – comes after renewed backlash to similar measures in New South Wales. |
| Moves to allow courts to ban drug offenders from entertainment precincts, which now apply only to violent offenders, will require additional law changes and may prompt a push by licensed venues for a compulsory, government-subsidised ID scanning regime to enforce the bans. | Moves to allow courts to ban drug offenders from entertainment precincts, which now apply only to violent offenders, will require additional law changes and may prompt a push by licensed venues for a compulsory, government-subsidised ID scanning regime to enforce the bans. |
| The government said the changes would be subject to “consultation with stakeholders”. | The government said the changes would be subject to “consultation with stakeholders”. |
| The Queensland council for civil liberties opposes scanning regimes because of the potential for privacy violations and a lack of demonstrated effectiveness reducing violence in places such as Victoria and Canada. | The Queensland council for civil liberties opposes scanning regimes because of the potential for privacy violations and a lack of demonstrated effectiveness reducing violence in places such as Victoria and Canada. |
| John “JC” Collins, former Powderfinger bassist and owner of the Brisbane music venue the Triffid – which will not be affected by the laws – said he was “very, very disappointed for the future of Brisbane music”. | John “JC” Collins, former Powderfinger bassist and owner of the Brisbane music venue the Triffid – which will not be affected by the laws – said he was “very, very disappointed for the future of Brisbane music”. |
| “I’m just extremely disappointed they didn’t consider the music industry when doing these crazy laws,” he said. | “I’m just extremely disappointed they didn’t consider the music industry when doing these crazy laws,” he said. |
| “They talked to everyone else except the music industry, which they left alone until the very last minute and then didn’t take any of the recommendations on board.” | “They talked to everyone else except the music industry, which they left alone until the very last minute and then didn’t take any of the recommendations on board.” |
| Lockout laws in Queensland entertainment precincts apply from 3am; 105 of 7,300 venues statewide are licensed to trade until 5am. | Lockout laws in Queensland entertainment precincts apply from 3am; 105 of 7,300 venues statewide are licensed to trade until 5am. |
| Under the new laws, those 105 venues can apply for permits to trade to 5am up to 12 times a year , and “low-risk” venues can apply for exemption from the midnight ban on serving “shots”. | Under the new laws, those 105 venues can apply for permits to trade to 5am up to 12 times a year , and “low-risk” venues can apply for exemption from the midnight ban on serving “shots”. |
| Casinos and airports are exempt from the lockout and trading restrictions. | Casinos and airports are exempt from the lockout and trading restrictions. |
| Police would be able to use blood alcohol tests taken from patrons to prosecute licensees breaching responsible service laws. | Police would be able to use blood alcohol tests taken from patrons to prosecute licensees breaching responsible service laws. |
| Music venues have tried to engage the government in a proposal for 3am closures and no lockouts – which they argue will stop the “club-hopping” characteristic of music scene patrons – but say they have been ignored. | Music venues have tried to engage the government in a proposal for 3am closures and no lockouts – which they argue will stop the “club-hopping” characteristic of music scene patrons – but say they have been ignored. |
| KAP MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth at first resisted supporting the legislation but will do so after gaining government commitments around mental health programs and meetings of a cabinet jobs committee in rural centres. | KAP MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth at first resisted supporting the legislation but will do so after gaining government commitments around mental health programs and meetings of a cabinet jobs committee in rural centres. |
| KAP also insisted on the staged implementation of the trading restrictions, with an $8m funding pool available to venues to adapt, including with more security. | KAP also insisted on the staged implementation of the trading restrictions, with an $8m funding pool available to venues to adapt, including with more security. |
| Katter said in a government-issued statement: “Alcohol-fuelled violence is an important social policy for the government, and the impact of unemployment and the economic downturn are important social policy issues for us.” | Katter said in a government-issued statement: “Alcohol-fuelled violence is an important social policy for the government, and the impact of unemployment and the economic downturn are important social policy issues for us.” |
| The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the government was “committed to curbing alcohol-fuelled violence, but we are also committed to increasing employment and devoting more resources to mental health.” | The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the government was “committed to curbing alcohol-fuelled violence, but we are also committed to increasing employment and devoting more resources to mental health.” |
| Venues and the music industry have said some operators will be put out of business and Brisbane’s vibrant band scene will be harmed, citing impacts in Sydney. | Venues and the music industry have said some operators will be put out of business and Brisbane’s vibrant band scene will be harmed, citing impacts in Sydney. |
| The minister for state development and natural resources and mines, Anthony Lynham, a vocal campaigner against alcohol-fuelled violence in his previous career as a facial reconstructive surgeon, argued the laws would mean fewer “families grieving [over assault-related deaths and injuries] for a very small adjustment in our night-time economy”. | The minister for state development and natural resources and mines, Anthony Lynham, a vocal campaigner against alcohol-fuelled violence in his previous career as a facial reconstructive surgeon, argued the laws would mean fewer “families grieving [over assault-related deaths and injuries] for a very small adjustment in our night-time economy”. |
| The laws, which are set to be passed after a debate on the floor of the Queensland parliament from Wednesday, would be independently reviewed from July 2018. | The laws, which are set to be passed after a debate on the floor of the Queensland parliament from Wednesday, would be independently reviewed from July 2018. |
| Palaszczuk has agreed to prioritise funding for mental health programs in the coming state budget, due on 14 June. | Palaszczuk has agreed to prioritise funding for mental health programs in the coming state budget, due on 14 June. |
| Katter said: “Rates of suicide in regional Queensland are too high and we welcome a stronger priority for mental health programs in the next budget.” | Katter said: “Rates of suicide in regional Queensland are too high and we welcome a stronger priority for mental health programs in the next budget.” |
| Knuth said KAP’s discussions with the government had been “meaningful” and “ensured we have been able to make progress” on social issues related to the economic downturn affecting regional Queensland. | Knuth said KAP’s discussions with the government had been “meaningful” and “ensured we have been able to make progress” on social issues related to the economic downturn affecting regional Queensland. |