QLD Government Reaffirms Commitment To 1am Lockout Times

Queensland's general joy over ousting Campbell Newman may be under threat from the new state Labor government, with reports emerging today that venues and pubs are likely to be subject to even stricter lockout times in the near future, with a recommended rollback from the existing time of 3am to 1am still a key part of the new government's plans to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.

The claims come via far-north daily paper The Townsville Bulletin as new Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath publicly reaffirmed Labor's commitment to its Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence policy (cache available here; the original no longer exists), a hotly touted weapon in its pre-election campaign arsenal.

"We are absolutely committed to rolling out the policy we took to the election regarding tackling alcohol-fuelled violence," D’Ath told the paper. "This government wants to ensure our licensed premises and entertainment precincts are safe and enjoyable places to visit.

"Too many Queenslanders are ending up in our emergency departments every weekend as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and the associated violence."

The changes would also technically move venue closing times forward by two hours, allowing venues with a license extending to the current closing time of 5am to continue serving food and soft drinks, and host entertainment, until that time. Still, that proposal, in conjunction with the earlier lockout time and a ban on selling shots and other high-alcohol drinks after midnight, has given some venue operators cause for pause.

According to Shawn Andersen, the proprietor of prominent far-north clubbing spot The Bank Niteclub, "We would lose employees, trade and it will be detrimental to business".

"It’s not the solution to the problem," he told the Bulletin. "We have more problems with people preloading at home. Then they try to come into the nightclub strips where we have to address the problem, where is the responsibility there?”

'Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence': Key Points

• Introduce a 1am lockout and stop the service of alcohol at 3am. Venues with an existing 5am closing licence may choose to remain open to serve food, non-alcoholic beverages and provide entertainment
• Continue the operation of Drink Safe Precincts (DSP) in Fortitude Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville, and consider the expansion of DSPs to other areas to ensure local services and strategies are well co-ordinated and effective
• Maintain the moratorium on very-late-night/early morning licensed trading in Queensland
• Impose mandatory ban orders on troublemakers found guilty of repeat offences in pubs, clubs and DSPs
• Undertake intelligence-led policing in DSPs and increase inspections by liquor licensing officers, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights
• Empower police to breathalyse intoxicated or disorderly patrons for the possible prosecution of patrons, management and licensees who have breached regulations of the Liquor Act 1992
• Ban the sale of high-alcohol-content drinks,including shots, after midnight
• Conduct a multimedia education and aware-ness campaign, targeting young male drinkers, about safe drinking practices, the impacts of alcohol-related violence, the changes to alcohol service times and the increased enforcement of existing regulations
• Support Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s call for funding for boxer Danny Green’s national “coward’s punch” campaign
• Investigate strategies to ensure safe travel to and from work for industry staff in the early hours

In related news, leading drug and alcohol clinician (and musician) Geoff Corbett recently explained to The Music's Steve Bell why sniffer dogs at festivals should be stamped out, in the process also highlighting pre-loading as a greater risk for festival, gig and club attendees than the threat of lengthy operating hours.

"I’d be more concerned about people pre-loading before going to a festival than I would be about busting someone with a couple of pills," Corbett said at the time.

Meanwhile, the Liberal-backed No Curfew movement have been voicing their disapproval over the policy on Facebook and, while occasionally veering into the histrionic, make some valid points regarding the efficacy of a state-wide approach to alcohol-fuelled violence.

"It's ridiculous to try and slap a blanket rule across the state," No Curfew posted on Facebook in late January. "The nightlife culture is different in different precincts and each area should be free to adapt as is appropriate - from Coolangatta to Cairns."

TheMusic.com.au has reached out to the Attorney-General's and Premier's offices for comment, and will keep you updated with any further information that comes to light about future potential legislative changes.