Mike Baird Does Another Back Flip: This Time, On Lockout Laws

Mike Baird is considering a review and overhaul of NSW lockout and liquor laws.

The decision comes just days after the NSW state Premier reversed the greyhound racing ban. It doesn't seem as though he's finished with doubling back on policies that he, personally, implemented.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Premier is preparing to act on liquor laws. The raft of changes may see bottle shops having permission to sell alcohol until midnight and allowing live-music venues to stay open longer.

Last Sunday, a sea of protesters took to the streets of Sydney to oppose the lockout laws as part of the Keep Sydney Open campaign.

The NSW lockout laws were initially introduced by Baird following a spate of one-punch incidents, including the death of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly in 2012.

Under these laws: bars, pubs and venues in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) Entertainment Precinct had to enforce 1.30am lockouts, last drinks were served at 3am and bottle shops weren't allowed to sell alcohol after 10pm.

High Court justice Ian Callinan made recommendations that the CBD and Kings Cross areas should be allowed to stay open for longer.

Baird will consider allowing lockout zones to stay open for an extra half-hour, extending it from 3am to 3:30am.

Changes will be reviewed and decided by cabinet, as early as tomorrow.

It does seem like a (very) slight relaxation of the existing laws, but hey - better than nothing?

Photo: Twitter - Keep Sydney Open