Image by Ashley Maher //
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has formed a committee to review the controversial lockout laws.
Remember when you could walk out of a Sydney club as the sun was coming up? Remember not having to start preloading in the early evening to get a buzz by midnight? Remember not having to scramble to make it to a club/pub before it “locked” you out? Well that was what the Sydney nightlife five years ago, before the state government introduced the lockout laws as a knee-jerk reaction to a string of terrible acts of violence in the Kings Cross district.
The laws resulted in a decline in violence around popular night spots in the city, but also a massive decline in patronage, which forced many venues to permanently close. Obviously, the lockout has been wildly unpopular with large groups, especially with the youth of NSW, with (one of many) marchs protesting the laws attracting thousands in February.
Even right-wing radio host Alan Jones has condemned the laws, claiming the reduction in violence is due to the lack of punters. “You dopes. Of course it’s declined. There’s no one there to be violent towards. The place is a morgue,” Jones said on his morning radio show.
This may all be changing shortly, however, with Gladys Berejiklian directing a committee to review the results of the laws. Such a review could potentially see a range of recommendations to loosen the restrictions on bars, clubs, and liquor stores, leading to the reinvigoration of the Sydney nightlife.
The committee will present its findings to parliament by the end of September, so watch this space and cross your fingers, toes, eyes, etc.
