Lock Out Laws to be Scrapped Across Newcastle for 12 Months

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Lockout laws are set to be lifted across the board in Newcastle under a 12 month trial.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello made the announcement at Newcastle Bar, Blue Kahuans on Wednesday. 

It comes after restrictions were lifted in Sydney's Kings Cross earlier in March. 

The trial which kicks of in May, will see patrons able to enter licensed premises right until closing time, with restrictions on liquor trading hours to be extended from 3.00am to 3.30am.

The sale of certain types of drinks, such as high strength cocktails and spirits will be lifted as well. 

Upper House Member Mark Latham says the trial is a chance to rebuild Newcastle's night time economy.

"Like Sydney and Kings Cross have had their lockout conditions lifted, Newcastle will be able to have a successful, high employment night time economy." 

The trial follows a one in October 2020 which saw more than two dozen small bars and restaurants in Newcastle able to extend their trading hours, and serve drinks which have more than 30ml of alcohol. 

Mr Latham, who recently re-located to Newcastle, says the trial will gather evidence. 

"Obviously we don't want any public safety problems."

"What I don't like about the advocates of lockdown, they're basically saying unlike the rest of the State, these lockdowns  have to be here based on the basis that Novacastrians are thugs. They're not." 

Mr Latham says the trial would build up tourism jobs. 

"The city is on the launching pad of huge success and economic boom and it's got to have mature and successful tourism and night time economy." 

"And the lifting of provisions for twelve months, it's not permanent but for twelve months we'll see how it goes, it's got to be the start of a whole new economic environment and jobs boom for Newcastle."

Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the trial would set the scene for the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority to consider a permanent relaxation of restrictions on a case-by-case basis.

“Newcastle is an engine room of our state’s economy and it’s not fair to leave the city’s night life stuck in 2008,” Mr Dominello said.

“Where there are incidents of alcohol-related violence arising from late trading hotels, we need to respond with targeted interventions.

“Gone are the days of blanket bans across an entire city - what’s good enough for Sydney is good enough for Newcastle.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said it is important to balance public safety with the needs of businesses.

“This is not by any means a green light for the criminal element to return to Newcastle.”

“We will closely monitor changes in the area and will not accept a return to any sort of violence.”

“Special licence conditions, including late-night lockouts, were imposed on 14 high-risk pubs 13 years ago to curb alcohol related violence. Many of the conditions were later extended to more pubs in Hamilton,” Mr Dominello said.

“The proposed stage two trial will again need to be a joint effort by the government, NSW Police, council and industry.

Relaxed conditions for small bars and restaurants will remain in place until January next year giving venues enough time to apply for permanent modifications.

A comprehensive evaluation of Stage 2 of the trial to examine the impacts on Newcastle’s night-time economy and the community will be completed by September 2022.

Relaxed Liquor Law Trial Potentially Extended, Residents Concerned about Flow On Effects

BY SAMUEL BARTLETT

Newcastle Council has voted to support a trial of relaxed liquor laws across in the city, kicking off in twenty-seven small bars and restaurants on October 1st.

The trial will allow restaurants to stay open and serve drinks until midnight and small bars until 2am.

The trial was set to run from October to April, but at last nights Council meeting, Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes flagged extending the trial for an extra 6 months. 

Venues taking part in the Newcastle After Dark strategy include Coal and Cedar, Basement on Market and Big Poppy's as well as iconic restaurants Scratchley's, the Edwards, Three Bears Kitchen and Signal Box.

Proprietor of Scratchley's restuarant and Battlesticks Bar, Neil Slater says the trial could lead to the revitalisation of the City's life after dark and believes Newcastle is ready for the trial despite its violent past.

"Under the new trial we'll be able to sell a nip of a fine scotch or cognac, or a cocktail up until 2am. The trial will allow for a more sophisticated Newcastle that has matured and is ready to take our place as one of the great cities of Australia."

"The whole idea is to gauge whether the city has changed. We have to have a look at whether what happened 12 years ago is indeed how we are now. I'd like to suggest that things have changed considerably."

Newcastle Council will also elect an independent inner-city resident to sit on the Committee for Night Time Jobs and Investment, however lockout laws advocate Tony Brown says the community has been left out of the process.

He says residents had no say in the extension of the trial from 6 to 12 months and fears the trial will flow onto larger inner-city pubs and clubs.

"We're concerned the outcome of the trial will be used as a precedent for pubs and clubs and the AHA (Australian Hotel Association) to demand an increase in their conditions."

"What Council doesn't realise is weakening controls for smaller bar and restaurants, will ultimately flow on to the higher risk, late trading, violent pubs and clubs."

"What the community is seeking is a iron clad guarantee that they will not rely on the outcomes of this trial to allow the bigger pubs and clubs to break down life saving Newcastle conditions."

Mr Brown also says small venues already have the ability to vary their licensing conditions and the trial is bypassing correct process.

Newcastle Council maintains they have been in collaboration with  Liquor and Gaming NSW, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and the NSW Police to facilitate the relaxation.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes (left) with Coal and Cedar's Ryan Hawthorne (middle) and Scratchley's Neil Slater (right)

                             

Lockout and Other Liquor Laws Under Review in Newcastle

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Lifting lockout laws and other strict restrictions imposed on venues across Newcastle was the topic of discussion at a meeting between politicians and stake holders held in Newcastle on Wednesday. 

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthorp met with the Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello and Member of the Joint Select Commitee on Sydney's Night Time Economy, MLC Mark Latham to discuss Newcastle’s night time economy and post Covid-19 recovery.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthrop said today was about consultation with local stake holders.

"Today is about seeing what the government can do to ease restrictions particularly post Covid when we have high unemployment."

"It's not just about the lock out laws, but laws that affect small bars as well. I mean you can't get a cocktail in Newcastle after 10pm, its ludicrous. So we need to change the rules around cocktails, we need to let small bars open up later."

"The Upper House inquiry into the night time economy and lock out laws decided to review them after 12 months, that will come up in January after Sydney's have come off. The Minister is here to see what he can do in the interim before that review in undertaken."

Owner of ‘Koutetsu’ a small bar operating on Hunter Street, Christopher Wilson, said extended hours would greatly benefit his business. 

"We have to close our bar at midnight, where as you'll find at most other areas in the State it's 2am."

"There weren't any small bars in Newcastle at the time the lockout laws were introduced, so the laws weren't in place for small bars. Newcastle has evolved, with the smaller venues now opening up more and more I think the laws definitely need to be adjusted."

Mr Crackanthorp agreed the laws need to be adjusted, as the City changes.

"These rules were introduced 12 years ago, we've had $1 billion worth of government investment and $2 billion worth of public investment, we've got a vastly different city and the rules and regulations have not changed since them."

"We had a lot of derelict shops before 'Renew Newcastle' came in, and the city was quite violent, things are very different now and the laws need to change as the city changes."

"You don't want to punish all venues for the action of some, we do need to take a staged a approach and take consultation and talk to the community."

Mr Crackanthorp said a review is needed to ensure Newcastle is recognized as a global city. 

"I mean we want to be a global city, we're the second largest city in the state and the sixth largest in Australia, we really do need to be able to get people to our city and show them a great night."

"Today's about consulting and seeing what the community thinks."

Mr Wilson says relaxed restrictions would allow him to give more hours to his staff, after having to stand down four workers during the pandemic. 

"If we could trade just a couple more hours a night, that would be massive to give my staff back their hours and gives businesses a fighting change during these hard times," Mr Wilson said.

"Clearly they've got to go through their processes but I do feel positive about us being able to trade until 2am."

Koutetsu Bar

Changes to Lock-Out Laws Not Necessary Say Advocates

BY EDIE DIEMAR

Proponents of Newcastle’s lockout laws say the state government’s interest in repealing the laws is built on misconstrued information.

The calls come after a NSW parliamentary committee recommended a review of Sydney lockout laws introduced in 2014.

State government MPs have suggested relaxing the decade old laws would boost Newcastle’s late night economy.

However, a September report by Ingenium Research for the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors says Newcastle’s bars and pubs account for 14 per cent of the night time economy, almost double NSW and Australian ratios

Alcohol harm prevention campaigner, Tony Brown says repealing the laws would send Newcastle back to “the bloodbath it once was”

Mr Brown claims the parliamentary committee report cherry picked information and was not specific to Newcastle.

“Unfortunately what we’ve seen in the last few days in Newcastle is a bending of the truth,” he said

“The reality is the Sydney parliamentary inquiry term of reference never included Newcastle.”

The Newcastle lockout laws were established in 2008 and still hold the support of Hunter police and medical professionals.

In August last year the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) published a review into the laws which suggested keeping the current 1.30 AM lockout but did recommend some changes around alcohol service times.

Mr Brown says he’s surprised the government is considering changing the laws just over 12 month on from the ILGA review.

“It’s absolutely crystal clear that the alcohol industry and their bedfellows in politics are behind the threat to reduce Newcastle conditions,” he said.

The law changes are still being considered and unlikely to happen until after a softening of similar laws in Sydney.

Image: The Newcastle Herald/ACM

Newcastle's Emergency Service Workers Say No To Relaxing Lockout Laws

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle emergency service workers are calling for the city's lockout laws to remain in place, fearing a spike in alcohol-fuelled violence if they are relaxed.

The Last Drinks Coalition, made up of police, paramedics, doctors, nurses and health sector workers, has made a submission to the independent review into liquor laws.

Cody Woods from the Newcastle Branch of the Police Association says even with the current laws, there's still a major problem with alcohol-related violence in the city, saying Newcastle has one of the highest rates of non domestic violence related assaults in the state.

In it's submission, Newcastle City Council is proposing to reward so-called well behaved venues by allowing them to trade for up to an hour longer.

Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes says Council wants to provide an incentive for venues as a way of encouraging the city's night-time economy.

The Last Drinks Coalition Wants To See Lockout Laws Maintained And Strengthened Picture: lastdrinks.org.au