Vote #1 Keep Sydney Open!

It’s no secret that Sydney’s nightlife has been dwindling severely over the past few years, a mere shell of what it once was. And while Keep Sydney Open began as a movement to help protect the city’s nightlife through various rallies and petitions that have earned the support of thousands, it has now evolved into a real, functioning political party.

After a six month campaign, Keep Sydney Open has now registered with the New South Wales Electoral Commission, and will contest seats in both houses of Parliament at next year’s state election. While much of their focus has been on Sydney’s lockout laws – which have been very slightly relaxed since their introduction in 2014 – their website states that they’re fighting for a “vibrant, creative global Sydney with a 24hr heartbeat.”

A recent report from the Sydney Morning Herald showed the devastating effects of the lockout laws, with a net loss of 176 venues over the past four years, effectively destroying many parts of Kings Cross and the CBD. “Keep Sydney Open’s supporters were never concerned with lockouts alone,” Tyson Koh of Keep Sydney Open said.

“Instead, we’ve come together with a common desire to make this the best city it can be. We know that it’s not about what time we can enter a venue, it’s about asking: What city do we want?”

“We are the first party in NSW set up to address cultural and youth issues. Young people all over NSW who would ordinarily vote Liberal or Labor are looking at those parties’ policies with bewilderment. We feel cheated, and being locked out of social spaces as well as the housing market has led to a generation of disillusioned young adults… The people of Sydney deeply resent their playground being destroyed. We don’t want to be known as a ‘casino city’, and want to address the corrupt governance that’s destroying Sydney,” he continued.

It seems like great progress is being made on the KSO front – we’ll have to see if Sydney’s nightlife can be revived, but the latest news is certainly encouraging. You can find out more information here.

Image by Ashley Mar