Sydney Lockout Laws Will Be Relaxed As Part Of A Two-Year Trial

A spate of changes to Sydney’s lockout laws will allow venues to stay open for longer, forming part of a two-year trial that will take effect in January next year.

SBS reports closing times for venues in the central business district (CBD) and Kings Cross lockout zones will be shifted back from 1.30am to 2am. The “last drinks” rule will also be extended; from 3.00am to 3.30am.

The changes won’t apply to nightclubs, karaoke bars or strip clubs.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said the laws have, without a doubt, saved lives.

“At the same time, there’s been strong views … that this has been an impact on live music and the vibrancy of this great city,” expressed Mr Baird.

“If we see an uptake in violence there’s an option to revert to where we were… but at the same time, if we continue to see improvements in violence or a maintenance of violence at levels that they’re current at, it gives us the capacity to further liberalise these laws.”

Some have labelled the proposed changes “a joke” given the extensions on closing-time are quite minimal. Keep Sydney Open, an anti-lockout laws group, called the Premier’s changes an insult to businesses and Sydney’s global status.

Keep Sydney Open campaign director, Tyson Koh, spoke to The Music about where the group stand on the revised lockout laws. “If the government thinks that 30 minutes will patch up this complete policy failure, they’re wrong,” he said.

“It simply exposes the fact that they have made a terrible mistake by putting their trust in go-to-bed laws to make Sydney Safer.”

Sydney’s lockout laws were introduced in 2014 after a series of fatal one-punch attacks.

While there is a great deal of opposition to the regulations, there are also supporters, including from emergency-department doctors and police.

Photo: Facebook (@KeepSydneyOpen)