Laneway Festival Promoter Joins Fight Against Sydney Lockouts

St Jerome's Laneway Festival promoter Danny Rogers is backing a new plan to make live music venues exempt from the controversial Sydney lockout laws.

The plan is being tabled by Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne and also has the support of musician Holly Throsby. A 1.30am lockout and 3am cessation of alcohol service has been effect for over a month now since New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell reacted to high-profile media outrage of violence in the city.

"Live music venues can be the antidote to the plague of pub violence."

Covering a precinct that stretches from the CBD to King's Cross, a number of live music venues fall under the blanket and while none have been willing to speak to theMusic.com.au on the record in recent weeks the reduced trading hours are understood to be having a negative effect on trading for venues of all formats.

Under Mayor Byrne's plan, which he is hoping his Labor party will introduce to parliament as legislation, live music venues will be except from the lockouts.

“Undoubtedly, the recent events in Sydney are nothing short of tragic” said Rogers. “On the other hand, the cultural identity of a city and hardworking small businesses with no record of violent history or clientele should not be challenged due to the government reacting to media pressure. These new laws could result in many businesses closing.”

Mayor Byrne said, “Everyone is concerned about assaults in our city, but live music venues can be the antidote to the plague of pub violence. Lock outs are being enforced on venues indiscriminately, and live music venues, with no record of violent incidents, are being punished for the mistakes of Kings Cross beer barns.”

"Legislation needs to recognise this difference."

Throsby said that “Sydney venues have long struggled to compete with pokies, noise restrictions, and now aggressive new legislation aimed at an entirely different demographic than the kind live music attracts.

“I abhor alcohol-fuelled violence, but when we talk about live music venues we are referring to places like Venue 505, GoodGod, the Oxford Arts Factory, The Vanguard, where alcohol consumption is statistically lower than average pubs and clubs and where violence has never been an issue. Legislation needs to recognise this difference.”

As part of Mayor Byrne's plana legislative definition of 'live music' will be established and venues fitting the description will be given trading conditions to compensate for reduced sales during performances times – conditions that include exemptions from lockouts.

In similar Sydney venue news, the recommendations of last year's Live Music Taskforce report are set to go in front of Sydney Council today. Key discussions, including funding options, are likely to be raised for what is arguably the most in-depth study of live music in a city in recent times.

A number of music industry stakeholders have joined the Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance to oppose the lockouts, including theMusic.com.au.

Download a copy of the plan here.