Comment: NSW Government continues watering down pub restrictions
In a move that is sure to please the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) the NSW Government has reduced the number of licensed venues facing a 2am lockout from 50 across the state to only 10, including just one venue located in the inner city.
The initiative originally imposed a 2am lockout and other measures on the top 50 most violent venues in the state. The Government has since revised the ranking system. A mandatory lockout will now only apply to venues recording 19 or more incidents over the period. Venues on the list with less incidents have had far more lenient restrictions imposed. This has had the effect of significantly reducing the number of venues facing a 2am lockout, something the AHA and venue owners have been campaigning for strongly.
These moves to water down the restrictions came about despite evidence showing that the lockout was having a positive impact. Local Police Commands reported a reduction in alcohol related problems thanks to the lockouts and were pushing for a wide scale roll out of the measures. Various research studies continue to show that reducing venue trading hours is the most effective way of bringing down alcohol related violence rates and other alcohol related impacts.
The AHA has heavily campaigned against any kind of trading hour restrictions or lockouts. They have called instead for a focus on personal responsibility and education campaigns. Interestingly, the NSW Government has followed suit and is pursuing this same tact. It appears they will do anything they can to avoid restricting trading hours. The Government has also been promoting their new focus on 'local solutions to local problems' as part of their 'Hassle Free Nights' program. Both the Premier and Police Minister have said they will listen to the requests from local Councils and Police Commands in an area and respond accordingly.
Manly Council and the Local Command in that area have been calling for reduced trading hours for a long time now. Police in at least one inner city Command have also been calling for an area wide lockout. The Emergency Services and Police Unions have launched a campaign pleading for a reduction in trading hours. Despite these calls and their promises to enact local solutions to local problems, the NSW Government has again failed to act. The Australian Hotels Association must be very pleased.