Pubs at ease with Kings Cross restrictions

New regulations introduced into NSW Parliament last week to tackle anti-social behaviour in Kings Cross are a positive step forward, Australian Hotels Association (NSW) CEO Paul Nicolaou has reaffirmed.

Amid widespread industry concern over the new regulations, Nicolaou stressed that they are simply formalising the reforms announced by the NSW Premier's office last month, measures the association is broadly supportive of.

"Last week's new regulations were about simply empowering the Government to introduce the strategies it announced several weeks ago to deal with anti-social behaviour in the area," he said.

Nicolaou said that over the last few months the NSW Government, patrons and venues have been working together to improve safety on the streets of Kings Cross "and we are starting to see the results of that".

"AHA (NSW) is having on-going dialogue with all Government, police, council and the local liquor accord on the issues relating to Kings Cross," he said.

After passing through the Legislative Assembly without amendment on Wednesday, the Liquor Amendment (Kings Cross Plan of Management) Bill 2012 was introduced to the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Source: The Shout, 29 October 2012