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| Lockout laws: Mike Baird announces relaxation of controversial policy Lockout laws: Mike Baird announces relaxation of controversial policy | |
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| The New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, has announced a relaxation of Sydney’s controversial lockout laws. | The New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, has announced a relaxation of Sydney’s controversial lockout laws. |
| Closing times for Sydney CBD venues will move from 3am to 3.30am and lockout times will be moved from 1.30am to 2am if live entertainment was provided, he said on Thursday. The lockout times are being extended as part of a two-year trial. | Closing times for Sydney CBD venues will move from 3am to 3.30am and lockout times will be moved from 1.30am to 2am if live entertainment was provided, he said on Thursday. The lockout times are being extended as part of a two-year trial. |
| The statewide ban on buying takeaway alcohol after 10pm will be pushed back to 11pm under the changes. | The statewide ban on buying takeaway alcohol after 10pm will be pushed back to 11pm under the changes. |
| The freeze on most new liquor licences in the CBD and Kings Cross will be extended to mid-2018 and the government will retain mandatory ID scanners and drink and glass restrictions in Kings Cross. Small bars will remain exempt from the freeze. | The freeze on most new liquor licences in the CBD and Kings Cross will be extended to mid-2018 and the government will retain mandatory ID scanners and drink and glass restrictions in Kings Cross. Small bars will remain exempt from the freeze. |
| Small bar licences will also now be available to venues with a capacity of 100, up from 60, a move the government hopes will attract operators and improve their commercial viability. Automatic trading times for small bars in the CBD and Kings Cross will be extended from midnight to 2am. | Small bar licences will also now be available to venues with a capacity of 100, up from 60, a move the government hopes will attract operators and improve their commercial viability. Automatic trading times for small bars in the CBD and Kings Cross will be extended from midnight to 2am. |
| It is also introducing a provisional approval system for low-risk venues such as restaurants and cafes, allowing them to begin liquor trading as soon as they apply for a licence. | It is also introducing a provisional approval system for low-risk venues such as restaurants and cafes, allowing them to begin liquor trading as soon as they apply for a licence. |
| The three strikes punishment system for licensees has also been changed, so that they apply to an individual licensee, rather than a venue. That prevents the new owners of a bar or club being tarnished by the actions of past operators. | The three strikes punishment system for licensees has also been changed, so that they apply to an individual licensee, rather than a venue. That prevents the new owners of a bar or club being tarnished by the actions of past operators. |
| Strikes will also now be dealt with by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority board, with appeal avenues to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. | Strikes will also now be dealt with by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority board, with appeal avenues to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. |
| The slight softening of the laws comes after a statutory review by Ian Callinan QC. | The slight softening of the laws comes after a statutory review by Ian Callinan QC. |
| The announcement has done little to assuage the concerns of those campaigning against the lockouts. | The announcement has done little to assuage the concerns of those campaigning against the lockouts. |
| Keep Sydney Open spokesman Tyson Koh said the changes would do nothing to improve Sydney’s nightlife and showed how “out of touch” Baird’s government was. | Keep Sydney Open spokesman Tyson Koh said the changes would do nothing to improve Sydney’s nightlife and showed how “out of touch” Baird’s government was. |
| “I just can’t believe it’s taken Mike Baird three years to come up with a paltry 30-minute pushback,” Koh said. “Not only is it a backflip but it’s one that doesn’t please the small business or the music community or anyone who has been fighting these lockouts. | “I just can’t believe it’s taken Mike Baird three years to come up with a paltry 30-minute pushback,” Koh said. “Not only is it a backflip but it’s one that doesn’t please the small business or the music community or anyone who has been fighting these lockouts. |
| “But it’s also a tacit acknowledgement that the lockouts need to be changed, that they haven’t worked.” | “But it’s also a tacit acknowledgement that the lockouts need to be changed, that they haven’t worked.” |
| Koh did welcome the changes to small bar licensing, saying the current capacity limit of 60 people made it commercially unviable for most operators. | Koh did welcome the changes to small bar licensing, saying the current capacity limit of 60 people made it commercially unviable for most operators. |
| The Australian hotels association NSW, which represents bars and clubs, said the changes were a “step in the right direction”, but said the continuation of the lockouts would still see well-behaved venues unfairly punished. | The Australian hotels association NSW, which represents bars and clubs, said the changes were a “step in the right direction”, but said the continuation of the lockouts would still see well-behaved venues unfairly punished. |
| The association’s director of liquor and policing, John Green, said the relaxation of limits on takeaway alcohol sales would help country hotels in particular. | The association’s director of liquor and policing, John Green, said the relaxation of limits on takeaway alcohol sales would help country hotels in particular. |
| Callinan’s review said there was no link between the sale of takeaway alcohol and violence and antisocial behaviour in the target precincts. That’s despite 2011 research showing a significant link between the density of alcohol stores and venues and domestic violence. | Callinan’s review said there was no link between the sale of takeaway alcohol and violence and antisocial behaviour in the target precincts. That’s despite 2011 research showing a significant link between the density of alcohol stores and venues and domestic violence. |
| The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (Fare) said it was concerned about the relaxation of restrictions on takeaway alcohol. | The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (Fare) said it was concerned about the relaxation of restrictions on takeaway alcohol. |
| Chief executive Michael Thorn described the change as premature and said it would expose women and children to a greater risk of family violence. He said preliminary data showed the 10pm restriction had reduced assaults in regional NSW. | Chief executive Michael Thorn described the change as premature and said it would expose women and children to a greater risk of family violence. He said preliminary data showed the 10pm restriction had reduced assaults in regional NSW. |
| “It’s disappointing the premier didn’t wait for a more thorough analysis of the data before relaxing the packaged liquor trading hours,” Thorn said. “We know for a fact that the more takeaway alcohol sold, the greater the risk of harm,” he said. | “It’s disappointing the premier didn’t wait for a more thorough analysis of the data before relaxing the packaged liquor trading hours,” Thorn said. “We know for a fact that the more takeaway alcohol sold, the greater the risk of harm,” he said. |
| “I have no doubt the people of New South Wales will be watchful and vigilant and very quick to react if say see any escalation in alcohol harm in their community.” | “I have no doubt the people of New South Wales will be watchful and vigilant and very quick to react if say see any escalation in alcohol harm in their community.” |
| The laws, which were introduced after a series of deadly one-punch assaults in the city, were widely welcomed by emergency services workers but met opposition over their impact on live music venues and nightlife. | The laws, which were introduced after a series of deadly one-punch assaults in the city, were widely welcomed by emergency services workers but met opposition over their impact on live music venues and nightlife. |
| Baird said that Callinan found the lockout laws, which were introduced early in 2014, have resulted in safer, quieter and cleaner areas. | Baird said that Callinan found the lockout laws, which were introduced early in 2014, have resulted in safer, quieter and cleaner areas. |
| “He made some commonsense suggestions for changes that we are confident will further enhance nightlife in the precincts without undermining the essential purpose of the laws – which is to make the CBD and the Cross places where people can enjoy a safe night out,” Baird said. | “He made some commonsense suggestions for changes that we are confident will further enhance nightlife in the precincts without undermining the essential purpose of the laws – which is to make the CBD and the Cross places where people can enjoy a safe night out,” Baird said. |
| The police minister, Troy Grant, said the changes would keep the focus on community safety. “We’ve found a balance that will contribute to lessening alcohol-fuelled violence whilst still allowing our global city to thrive and be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike,” he said. | The police minister, Troy Grant, said the changes would keep the focus on community safety. “We’ve found a balance that will contribute to lessening alcohol-fuelled violence whilst still allowing our global city to thrive and be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike,” he said. |
| He said the government would be “fairly liberal” in its definition of live entertainment. Grant said strip clubs would not be included. “Those determinations and approvals will be done by the secretary. They’re fairly liberal,” he said. “The, you know, famous artists who won about five Arias, Flume, who does wonderful music from that sort of operation, is absolutely live entertainment and will be the sort of live entertainment on offer,” he said. | He said the government would be “fairly liberal” in its definition of live entertainment. Grant said strip clubs would not be included. “Those determinations and approvals will be done by the secretary. They’re fairly liberal,” he said. “The, you know, famous artists who won about five Arias, Flume, who does wonderful music from that sort of operation, is absolutely live entertainment and will be the sort of live entertainment on offer,” he said. |
| “It’s for the venues to make that application to the secretary to see if it fits within that broader definition that we have created.” | “It’s for the venues to make that application to the secretary to see if it fits within that broader definition that we have created.” |
| The trial will be fully evaluated after two years. | The trial will be fully evaluated after two years. |