"Time to breathe oxygen into Sydney's nightlife."
Lord Mayor Clover Moore has welcomed the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Sydney's Night Time Economy, including that the lockout laws be lifted in the Sydney CBD and Oxford Street.
"This is an excellent result and an exciting moment for Sydney's nightlife. Repealing lockouts in the CBD and Oxford Street is an important first step that will breathe oxygen into Sydney's nightlife," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
"I am proud to have stood with the musicians, artists, hospitality workers and business owners most affected by the lockouts, and the many thousands of Sydneysiders who want to keep Sydney open – the news that lockouts will soon be a thing of the past is music to our ears.
The Committee found that the 2014 lockout laws adversely impacted Sydney's night time economy and the NSW Government now needs to take proactive steps to revitalise Sydney's night time economy. It has proposed that the Government appoint an overarching coordinator for the night-time economy, with the responsibility of developing a night-time economy strategy and providing advice on a range of regulatory matters within 60 days.
"Close collaboration between the State Government, the City and everyone involved in our night time economy should be an integral part of fixing the damage done by the lockouts and rebuilding a nightlife that is both exciting and safe," the Lord Mayor said.
"There were very real problems with alcohol-fueled violence and anti-social behaviour in areas like Kings Cross six years ago, but the collateral damage caused by the lockout laws is unacceptable, with 50 percent of live music venues closing since the introduction of the laws.
"The lockout laws were a sledgehammer to crack a nut, when what was needed were policies to create a safe and diverse nightlife deserving of a global city. We needed 24 hour trains to allow people to get home, we needed tougher licensing laws, including incentives for good management of venues and penalties for badly managed venues, and we needed policies that spread venues out across the city, not concentrate them in places like the Cross."
The City of Sydney's submission to the Inquiry supported the removal of the 1:30am lockout and 3:00am cease service rules, which has been adopted for the CBD and Oxford Street. While the lockouts have been retained in Kings Cross, the Committee recommends they be reviewed within 12 months.
The City also recommended that venues in Kings Cross no longer be required to operate expensive ID scanners. It has however recommended that mandatory ID scanning only take place after 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Committee has recommended that the NSW Government investigate other proposals from the City including the integration of liquor licencing and the development approvals process to cut red tape and address the cumulative impact of late-night venues. The Committee also recommended increasing late night public transport.
"In May this year, Council unanimously endorsed a new late night development control plan for Sydney. The plan includes some of the biggest changes to red tape and city planning in a decade, extending 24-hour trading across the entire city centre, allowing shops, businesses and low-impact food and drink venues on high streets to trade until 2am and allowing venues that hold performances and creative events in late-night trading areas to stay open longer," the Lord Mayor said.
"This work to remove red tape and increase activity in our city centre, along with the removal of lockouts and commencement of George Street light rail, will truly energise the night time economy of our global city.
"Today's announcement is an important step but it is just that, a single step. We need to ensure focus remains on the broader action necessary to restore our nightlife and create the environment in which it is safe and viable for all lockouts become a thing of the past.
"We know that adequate public transport and measures to prevent the clustering of late night venues would safely enable the repeal of the lockout laws in the Cross, so I am hopeful that the NSW Government implements these changes then finishes the job of repealing the lockouts completely."
