Mayor Reveals Damning Stats We Saw Coming: Lockouts Are Turning People Off Sydney

New data obtained by the City Of Sydney has revealed just how damaging lockout laws have been in Sydney since being introduced.

The data, contained in the City’s submission to the parliamentary inquiry into Sydney’s night time economy, shows that almost 500,000 fewer people under the age of 35 have visited Sydney each year since 2014, the same year lockouts took affect. 

"In 2014 I warned the State Government that its lockout laws would have a devastating impact on the night time economy, and recommended a review of the lockout experiment after one year. Six years later, I’m sad to say these predictions were accurate,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“The collateral damage has been devastating. Scores of small bars, live music venues, well-managed clubs and pubs have closed – not to mention a reduction in business diversity, with 50% fewer restaurants and only 9% of entertainment business trading beyond midnight.”

The City Of Sydney's submission features 18 recommendations on how to improve the city's night time economy including removing the liquor freeze and 1.30am lockouts, introducing a NSW Government night time economy office and the extension of train and light rail services to 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. 

"We need 24-hour trains and other public transport to ensure people can get home quickly and safety late at night, like in Melbourne and London," Moore said.

"We need to further strengthen liquor licencing to provide incentives for good management and penalties for poorly managed venues, and we need policies that encourage venues to spread out across the city, rather than concentrating them in areas like Kings Cross. 

“The City of Sydney’s night time economy is worth more than $4 billion to the NSW economy and employs over 35,000 people. Removing the lockouts would send a strong message to the sector that the NSW Government truly values its artists, musicians, and entertainment and hospitality sectors, as well as their value to our state’s economy.”

Hearings will be held on 5, 9 and 12 August, and the joint select committee on Sydney’s night time economy will report to Parliament by 30 September.