QLD lockout laws to have 18-month trial

Queensland’s proposed lock-out legislation should have an 18-month trial if they are passed, a parliamentary committee report has recommended.

After hearing the pros and cons of the proposals following meetings around the state, the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee was unable to reach a majority decision. It therefore couldn’t recommend the proposed laws be passed. Instead, it provided three recommendations for Parliament to consider. 

(1) The 18 month trial is for a “thorough evaluation of the changes in the community as a result of the bill’s implementation.” The idea of the new rules are to change Queensland’s drinking culture.

(2) Parliament is to collect data on whether measures as 2 am last drinks outside prescribed Safe Night Precincts and no shots after midnight, would indeed reduce alcohol-related incidents. This would be from agencies as Queensland Police, Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service.

(3) The Government address drafting issues identified in section 3.1.7 of the report.

The Government members of the committee also suggested that late night hours for takeaway outlets be wound back, and that the word “lockout” be amended to “one way door.”

The Opposition and the Katter’s Australian Party have called for a delay in debating the issue, as the report was only released yesterday. But Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is insistent it be held Parliament’s first sitting week of the year.

The Government and Opposition are battLing over whether there is evidence that such measures would work. Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath insists there is, and it is “peer reviewed and crime statistics data from outside Queensland, which supports what we’re saying.”

Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker argues there is not enough evidence, and it would be ridiculous to pass the laws and collect the data after.

There is apprehension whether the Government has the numbers to pass the legislation. It is one vote short. One independent Billy Gordon has announced he will vote against it. So it depends on either of the two Katter Party MPs.

The 118-page report goes into details of arguments for and against the proposed laws. The live music sector warned of venue closures, staff sackings and the destruction of night culture that would affect musician livelihoods as well as the tourism dollar. 

The report says the 1 am lockout has "little support from any quarter." But venues can apply to open until 3 am and up to 5 am for 12 events a year.

The full report can be found here.