Lockout battle continues after Baird exit
Mike Baird might be gone but his lockout legacy lives on.
While Baird announced his shock resignation last week, the impact of his lockout is here to stay.
Venues have closed down, Sydney’s culture has suffered and Kings Cross, once the city’s biggest night-life hot spots, is empty.
The lockout laws - 1.30am lockouts and 3am cessation of liquor sales at venues in Sydney’s entertainment zones - forced venues to close their doors and call last drinks early.
Baird had called the laws to curb alcohol-induced violence but the result sent shockwaves through the hotel industry, discouraging patrons and destroying business.
For sure, the government eased the laws in response to recommendations of an independent review into the legislation overseen by former High Court judge Ian Callinan, but it was only tweaking.
The changes saw the 1.30am lockout curfew moved to 2am and last drinks from 3am to 3.30am. And shifting it by just 30 minutes hasn’t made much difference. Bottle shop and home delivery alcohol sales were extended from 10pm to 11pm across the state but, again, one hour was never going to change much.
The first venues to gain exemptions under the relaxation of the lockout laws - the CBD's Palace Hotel and Arthouse Hotel and the Observer Hotel in the Rocks – have been announced.
Lobby group Keep Sydney Open says the fight continues.
“Premier Mike Baird’s resignation as Liberal party leader creates an opportunity for the NSW government to revitalise Sydney,” the group posted on Facebook.
“We want to prove the potential this city has to be a fun, cultural and safe place for all of us.
Today Mike Baird said it’s time to ‘refresh and reset’. We agree. Let’s all seize this opportunity for change.”
The Keep Sydney Open group had applied to hold a protest march but the Supreme Court ruled against it.
The fight continues.
by Leon Gettler, January 23rd 2017
