NSW Sydney Lockout Laws

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Oct 8, 2009
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http://www.nsw.gov.au/newlaws

Anyone had a read of these and how they've negatively impacted the whole area up in Sydney? Seem like absolute farces created by a government with a clear agenda. I'm hoping that the Victorian Government has more sense and never reverts to such drastic measures for one or two unfortunate deaths. They seem to so far....

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/would-last-person-sydney-please-turn-lights-out-matt-barrie

Lots of controversy regarding them and hard not to agree with it. Their premier, Mike Baird seems to totally ignore the whole forcing people of Sydney towards the casino argument, which stinks of nothing more than another government loving that dollar.

Total garbage, and something I'd expect from the temperance movement in 20th century America.
 

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It has gone relatively big on social media. I've seen the Matt Barrie article and reactions posted from a variety of people. It particularly sucks for watching European football as a lot of matches go from midnight to 2am and then you can't meet people out as the lock-out is 1:30am.

I'm sure they've claimed a drop-off in incidents and assaults, but I don't think it will last. The Casino has apparently made $100M+ from the laws so Packer should be happy enough by now. Sydney claims to be an 'international city' and the rules have killed off night-life after 1:30, which won't fly for bigwigs trying to impress clients/people of influence/etc. Plus it isn't really that late for party-goers, let alone clubbers. Most bar/pub/restaurants close at midnight in Sydney because of residential area laws, so people then all get funneled into the Cross/Oxford St/King St. Essentially you then have time to try one or two venues before the laws keep you on the street or send you home.

Provincial towns have used lock-outs and been happy with the drop in crime, but they generally only have a handful of venues that it applies to. Sydney has a handful of areas where people party late, but there are tens of venues within each of those areas. CCTV and police you'd think could handle it, but of course that means the crime stats are higher and 'lower crime' is something Pollies love to point at whenever people complain about the latest media-fueled crime outrage.
 

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There's a hypocrisy in these laws as governments support them but won't do anything to limit rampant alcohol advertising.

Reminds me of politicians and business people opposing decriminalising some drugs yet not batting an eyelid at the damage pokies really are doing to society.
 

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It has gone relatively big on social media. I've seen the Matt Barrie article and reactions posted from a variety of people. It particularly sucks for watching European football as a lot of matches go from midnight to 2am and then you can't meet people out as the lock-out is 1:30am.

I'm sure they've claimed a drop-off in incidents and assaults, but I don't think it will last. The Casino has apparently made $100M+ from the laws so Packer should be happy enough by now. Sydney claims to be an 'international city' and the rules have killed off night-life after 1:30, which won't fly for bigwigs trying to impress clients/people of influence/etc. Plus it isn't really that late for party-goers, let alone clubbers. Most bar/pub/restaurants close at midnight in Sydney because of residential area laws, so people then all get funneled into the Cross/Oxford St/King St. Essentially you then have time to try one or two venues before the laws keep you on the street or send you home.

Provincial towns have used lock-outs and been happy with the drop in crime, but they generally only have a handful of venues that it applies to. Sydney has a handful of areas where people party late, but there are tens of venues within each of those areas. CCTV and police you'd think could handle it, but of course that means the crime stats are higher and 'lower crime' is something Pollies love to point at whenever people complain about the latest media-fueled crime outrage.

a pretty obvious explanation for drop off in incidents and assaults, is less foot traffic in these areas. Where neighbouring areas, have experienced an increase (e.g. Glebe,). So, way to go.. just move the problem onto someone else.
 
If you talk to Gordian Fulde, the laws have worked as there is less strain on public hospital waiting rooms in Sydney as a result of the decline in alcohol fueled violence.

hm is that for st Vincents, for for RPA too? across the board? I can only find early 2014 results, which did have a drop for RPA, but nothing since then?

from this article:

While the injuries from so-called coward punches have reduced, St Vincent's remains busy and the National Australia Day Council said the 67-year-old presides over the ER from midnight to dawn, describing him as "the doctor on call when disaster strikes".

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/doctor-who-fights-the-alcohol-violence-culture-is-senior-australian-of-the-year-20160125-


was it so out of control, that there had to be a two year freeze on liquor licences (new & existing)?
That bottleshops had to close at 10pm, regardless of where they might be ? I wonder if the alcohol delivery services, that operate in inner sydney are exempt.
 
Newcastle is an interesting study as there is a nearby area that for years avoided the same laws (Hamilton).

In itself lockouts do nothing, however allowing establishments to stay open but restricting alcohol sales after a certain time showed a positive correlation between assaults where police were called and the time alcohol sales were restricted from.

What gets lost is that smaller venues tend to record far lower assault statistics in general so (for example) Melbourne's small bar culture wouldn't gain much benefit by lockout laws, and it would certainly ruin many businesses for little to no effect.

Sydney's laws excluding the casino just show how easily big money can sway policy decisions.
 

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Agreed. It's the 'beer barn' culture, or the bigger clubs. People really notice if you are utterly sloshed in a smaller venue.

I like the idea of stopping drinks an hour before closing as it essentially gives people enjoying themselves sobering up time without everyone leaving all at once, and those who are getting smashed will leave as soon as it's restricted in search of more piss at the casino or at a house party or whatevs.
 
Agreed. It's the 'beer barn' culture, or the bigger clubs. People really notice if you are utterly sloshed in a smaller venue.
I think it's partly that, and the type of person who goes to a bigger venue is different to the sort of person who goes to a smaller venue.
The ego-driven Stereosonic types who only go out to pick-up/fight/both are far more likely to go to bigger beer-barn venues.
 
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A long-overdue initiative that FINALLY kicked off in Victoria is round-the-clock public transport on Friday/Saturday nights. I often found that there were fights and brawls because everyone was dumped out on the streets at the same time with no means of getting away home except for expensive cabs or an intermittent Nightrider bus service that wasn't so route-friendly for some.

I think crime stats might bear out the wisdom of this plan later in the year.

Are there round-the-clock public transport services on weekends up in N.S.W? If not maybe they should look into it.
 
Newcastle is an interesting study as there is a nearby area that for years avoided the same laws (Hamilton).

In itself lockouts do nothing, however allowing establishments to stay open but restricting alcohol sales after a certain time showed a positive correlation between assaults where police were called and the time alcohol sales were restricted from.

What gets lost is that smaller venues tend to record far lower assault statistics in general so (for example) Melbourne's small bar culture wouldn't gain much benefit by lockout laws, and it would certainly ruin many businesses for little to no effect.

Sydney's laws excluding the casino just show how easily big money can sway policy decisions.

I think small venues {60 ppl max} are exempt from these laws in Sydney.

Interesting in qld, casinos also exempt.
 

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Similar laws passed in Qld. Looking at the comments on the Facebook posts about the laws, nobody seems to back them except religious types, senile old people and those whose idea of a good time is starting at a blank wall.

Those types must be aplenty in NSW and QLD's governments.
 
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Similar laws passed in Qld. Looking at the comments on the Facebook posts about the laws, nobody seems to back them except religious types, senile old people and those whose idea of a good time is starting at a blank wall.

Those types must be aplenty in NSW and QLD's governments.

If the rumours are to be believed both Scipione and Stokes are connected to a modern day temperance movement.
 
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I'm anti lock out laws, especially in a day and age where many people don't work 9-5. what about shift workers or FIFOs who have put in the hard yards and simply want time out.

perhaps we should look at the types of venues associated with the violence and consider localised responses targeting certain liquor licences and the owners.

a bigger effort needs to focus on the individuals involved with the violence. dare I say it, perhaps steroids and other illicit drugs are involved.

oh and the penalty for any crime committed whilst drunk should be a life time ban from licenced premises (including restaurants). why should good ordinary folk be penalised for the actions of the stupid minority?
 
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I'm anti lock out laws, especially in a day and age where many people don't work 9-5. what about shift workers or FIFOs who have put in the hard yards and simply want time out.

perhaps we should look at the types of venues associated with the violence and consider localised responses targeting certain liquor licences and the owners.

a bigger effort needs to focus on the individuals involved with the violence. dare I say it, perhaps steroids and other illicit drugs are involved.

oh and the penalty for any crime committed whilst drunk should be a life time ban from licenced premises (including restaurants). why should good ordinary folk be penalised for the actions of the stupid minority?

the whole violence issue is bullshit, the two attacks they used to justify the laws occurred before 11PM Lock out laws do not apply.
one of the attacks occurred in an area not covered by the laws.

the Star casino is the most violent location in all of NSW does not have a lock out.
Home nightclub second most violent club in Sydney does not have a lockout.

and these aren't just since the lockout laws began, they have ALWAYS been higher.
the star casino is statistically the most violent place in all of NSW, more dangerous then stumbling drunk through a back alley in Sefton carrying a plastic bag full cash.

If its about violence then why don't these venues have lockout laws?
 
the whole violence issue is bullshit, the two attacks they used to justify the laws occurred before 11PM Lock out laws do not apply.
one of the attacks occurred in an area not covered by the laws.

the Star casino is the most violent location in all of NSW does not have a lock out.
Home nightclub second most violent club in Sydney does not have a lockout.

and these aren't just since the lockout laws began, they have ALWAYS been higher.
the star casino is statistically the most violent place in all of NSW, more dangerous then stumbling drunk through a back alley in Sefton carrying a plastic bag full cash.

If its about violence then why don't these venues have lockout laws?

I would say burswood casino would be right up there for crime as well........including assaults carried out by bouncers

burswood is filled with the dregs of society including people wearing nappies so they don't have to leave the table. wtf is wrong with some people?
 
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What a disaster.

If I lived in Sydney, I'd be filthy about this.

everyone is, the funny part is i work in the cross i see the complete opposite of what baird and his mates report
cops are pulling people into wagons far more then when i started here. all the businesses that are shutting down are the not the pub's and clubs (although a few have) they are the support businesses that used feed off the club scene and have over priced rents as a result. there seems to roving packs of campaigners who are completely sober looking for fights, abusing cabbies and s**t. for some bizarre reason strip clubs are exempt from the lockouts despite serving grog so the place is quickly turning seedier than my beard.
 

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