Canberra is pushing for lockouts

The ACT could follow in the much-contested footsteps of NSW and QLD as Canberra lobby groups push for 1am lockouts at clubs and pubs and 3am last drinks.

In a submission to the ACT Government, the ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance is calling for new legislation to include a 1am venue lockout and for closing times to be wound back to 3am. 48 venues in the state are open after 3am, closing as late as 5am.

According to Canberra Times, the submission follows a government-sought consultation in July, which found a 35% increase in intoxication cases compared to three years ago, and a 24% increase in alcohol-related injuries.

"The impact of this harm is reflected in alcohol-related emergency department presentations in ACT, with more than 18 people a day presenting because of an alcohol-related injury," said the submission.

In an interesting move, the ACT Government is also considering employing underage children to test whether bottle shops are selling alcohol to minors. Consultation has been sought on that particular scheme.

The ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance said it is expecting a change in business after the introduction of late night trading restrictions.

In Queensland, the No Curfew group’s two-and-a-half year battle against the state’s proposed lockout laws, comes to a head this Saturday. A number of industry groups will hold Save Our Nightlife rallies in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Airlie Beach. There will be speeches and live performances from industry leaders, musicians and politicians.

Our Nightlife Queensland, estimates that in one regional city like Townsville alone, 100 jobs could go from bars and nightclubs, and a loss of $6.4 million from the local economy.

In New South Wales, the issues caused by the Sydney city and Kings Cross lockouts are being closely monitored. As many as 16 venues across the city have blamed the lockout laws for their closures.  The latest venue to fall prey to the legislation is the high-profile Hugos Lounge. It went into voluntary administration after a 60% drop in revenue. Chief executive of the Kings Cross Liquor Accord Doug Grand called the entertainment strip “a ghost town from what it used to be.”

Approximately 3,000 people took part in a public rally against the NSW lockout laws on Sunday. Reclaim The Streets organisers told TMN they had around 2,000 attendees as they moved through Kings Cross and more joined them when they reached Taylor Square. Some of the slogans painted on revellers’ signs read: “Unlock Sydney”, “We Want Our City Back’, and “Double Standards, Star City The Most Corrupt & Violent Venue, Open 24 Hrs, WTF”.

Image: Man Overboard at Magpies City Club
Photo Credit: Zac Eisenstein