Senator labels Sydney lockout laws a "moral panic", wants them overturned

Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm aims to restart the debate over Sydney’s controversial 1:30am lockout laws, referring to them as a result of a “moral panic”.

Leyonhjelm says the laws “punish the many for the sins of the few”, and will be a key focus of his Senate inquiry into the NSW "nanny state".

Speaking to Fairfax Media, the senator said the introduction of lockouts was the result of “a classic moral panic” led by the mainstream media in response to the tragic one-punch of deaths of young Sydney men Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie.

“There’s no question it’s a sort of collective punishment for the guilt of individuals,” he said. “Next their call will be for the lockouts to be extended to Newtown. So then they might move to Paddington or Bondi – so where does it end? Essentially it’ll get down to ‘well you shouldn’t be out at that time of the day’. And that’s absolutely nanny state thinking: I don’t approve of what you’re doing therefore I’ll make it impossible for you to do it.”

Senator Leyonhjelm – who is often partial to a controversial statement on topics like drug legalization and gun control - is also concerned the laws are hurting Sydney's reputation as an international city and denting tourism.

Sydney Morning Herald reports that as many as 16 venues across the city have blamed the lockouts for their closure.

The laws are due for review in February, 2016.

[Via SMH]