Sydney Alliance To Fight Lockout Laws

As the New South Wales Government passed new, stringent laws for late-night venues, a group of music venues, associations, artists and media outlets formed the Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance.

The photo on the Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance petition.

In response to highly publicised assaults in the city’s entertainment precincts, the Government rushed through proposals Jan. 30 to come into effect in April.

These included a 1 a.m. lockout with no new customers allowed in, no alcohol served after 3 a.m., an increase in spot fines, higher license fees for high-risk venues, and mandatory eight-year jail sentences for alcohol-related assaults.

The Government adopted a similar approach to the regional town of Newcastle and claimed a reduction in assaults.

But the Alliance says the problems faced by Sydney, with a population of 4.5 million, would be better served by initiatives adopted by global cities.

It argues that alcohol-related assaults are in fact the lowest in 10 years, that Sydney’s nightlife has been rejuvenated in this time, and that the new laws will particularly affect the revenues of Sydney’s officially registered 143 live music venues.

The Alliance suggests that all-night public transport and more cops on the beat are more effective alternatives.