James Mathison Blasts Government & Lockout Laws: 'We're Not Children'

TV presenter James Mathison stunned many when he announced last month that he'll be running as an independent candidate against former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the federal seat of Warringah in Sydney, but the former Australian Idol host is proving he's taking the gig seriously and has taken aim at the state government and the city's contentious lockout laws.

"They’re telling us that they have to keep us safe, but they’re also saying ‘We don’t trust you as an adult to be able to go out responsibly’," Mathison said in an interview with MTV. 

"You can transform the culture by just educating people and so live music is dying. DJs are dying. Fun is dying. Where do you go to dance? It’s like Footloose. You may as well ban dancing.

"And they’re saying ‘Look at the numbers, look at the figures. Violence is down’. Violence is down because everywhere is shut," he continued.

"Everyone is staying home, no one is going out. So you’ve had a 60% drop in violence, well you’ve had probably the same drop in the amount of people going out.

"We're not children."

Mathison also noted the two fatal king hits which prompted the introduction of the laws in 2014.

"Those king hits that happened where horrifically tragic," he said.

"They happened at 9-10 in the evening. We’re told ‘This will keep you safe’…and what cost, you know?"

Check out the full video below.

Mathison's comments come a week after the former Channel [V] personality was accused of dodging a $400 hair and make-up session for eight months. 

As Daily Mail reports, Mathison claimed it was a misunderstanding and that he was provided the wrong bank details. 

"I didn't realise it'd bounced back. Only two weeks ago did she bring it to my attention," he said of the payment in an interview with 2GB.

"The important thing that I'm getting across is that I did attempt to pay her."

Mathison reportedly paid the make-up artist last week.