Why We Stand Against Lockouts In Sydney Venues

30 January 2014 | 4:27 pm | Scott Fitzsimons

An editorial from theMusic.com.au

Earlier today the new Sydney Late Night Cultural Alliance was officially launched and its first campaign – opposition to the state government's proposed venue lockouts – made public.

Finally, we're presented with a chance for Sydney's live music community to work as one to campaign for the industry's interests, rather than the fragmented approach the city's industry has a reputation for.

As a founding member of the Alliance, theMusic.com.au and The Music's weekly Sydney magazine both support the Alliance's campaign to protest the lockouts – something we feel will not only damage business and culture, but achieve the exact opposite of its intention and cause more violence.

The two bills, presented together, will probably pass through parliament soon, with only the Greens and maybe independents looking to provide any real resistance. The bills are at parliament today and the Premier has expressed intent to get them through before the weekend. They passed through the lower house at about 1pm and we don't expect they'll face too much opposition in the upper house. At time of writing, there are reports that the upper house were recalled to sit at 2.30pm – so it could be through both houses by this afternoon, needing only assent from the Governor.

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Once its receives that assent, it will become law 28 days later.

Premier Barry O'Farrell in parliament today, screen grab from live feed

While theMusic.com.au is a firm believer in the notion that live music decreases violence and serves to promote a feeling of security and safety around the city, let's put to one side the fact that music venues need long trading hours to make up for the reduced consumption by punters when a band is on. Let's consider the venues that don't have live entertainment and are under scrutiny over violence.

Let's consider that there are people who are likely to start trouble when they drink too much.

At the moment the city doesn't have the transport infrastructure to get people out of the city. If you start locking everyone one out, at the same time at 1.30am, and then cutting their service, at the same time at 3am, this is only going to exacerbate the problem.

Where are these people going to go? There are not enough taxis – particularly at 3am changeover – and the trains don't go all night.

Even if you run regular buses from Kings Cross to the CBD, you're only moving the problem around the city. They're still going to have to wait for a NightRider bus, which only leave once an hour. Instead of having people in venues, where they can be controlled and where there are strong security presences, all of a sudden they're out on the street – potentially quite frustrated at being there and having to wait 55 minutes for a bus. Or they go spend their money at the casino, which is exempt from these laws.

That's when the fuse gets lit. That's when people go to illegal parties in parks or in warehouses. That's when our city is dangerous.

The Premier's actions are completely understandable. The mainstream media pressure to act on the run of tragic deaths meant he had to do something. And while incidents of violence are not a new thing (actually, they're decreasing), we're happy to have the discussion that will increase the safety measures around our city – a city we love and want to protect.

What's disappointing is that the Premier's reaction was a predictable one, when it could have been revolutionary.

The lockout – and specifically blanket lockouts that can't be staggered – is the same old idea that doesn't work, it just hides the problem and pushes it away – if that.

Imagine if the Premier had announced plans to implement a 24-hour transport city around Sydney? Imagine if he said, yes, Sydney is a global city and one of the world's finest, so let's embrace that.

We are living in a 24-hour world at the moment and Sydney doesn't switch off between the hours of 3am and 9am – so let's stop pretending that it does.

As an endnote, even if the bill passes both houses today (meaning the '1.31am Keep Sydney Open' campaign will have lasted all of eight hours), the structure put in place by the new Alliance is a positive step forward for the industry. Let's take notes from Music Victoria and SLAM's relationship, let's learn from the City Of Sydney's own Live Music Taskforce, and let's do right by our music scene.