Should Sydney Appoint A Night Mayor To Combat Lockouts?

Keep Sydney Open campaign manager Tyson Koh has called for the city to appoint a night mayor as an answer to the lockout laws which are currently up for review. 

In a statement posted to the organisation's Facebook page today, Koh said the idea was inspired by Amsterdam's own night mayor, Mirik Milan, who he met at a summit in Netherlands a fortnight ago. 

"After learning about the experience in other cities, it seems that various organisations around nightclubs, live music, musicians, bars and other business owners are better-able to form," Koh writes. 

"That’s one major failing I see in NSW, the failure of socially positive and cultural industries to organise and represent themselves, which is not the fault of government. However, what the Government does have control over is their willingness to listen to and consult with these industries. That’s what they do successfully in cities like Antwerp, Vancouver and Berlin; they respect and involve these groups.

"Where people in government are largely inept at moving away from blanket policies, the Night Mayor is consulted to distinguish between venues that will have a positive impact on the city and ones that won’t.

"Therefore I am advocating strongly for the creation of a Night Mayor of our own. As the current government has displayed an utter disregard for the cultures that exist after dark, I believe they should make an effort to reconcile this ignorance by appointing either a person or a department that is dedicated to making Sydney's night-time economy work."

Koh went on to slam the state government, calling them "out of touch".

"They think the keys to making a great city are motorways, casinos, harbours, stadiums, convention centres, beaches and apartments. What makes a great city, however, is the spirit of its people; their desire to build cultures and communities for their own sense of belonging and enjoyment," the statement continues. 

"The most compelling precincts and cities are the ones that grow organically, yet it’s been the State Government’s policy to push down and stifle organic communities at every turn. It’s this misunderstanding that has led to Sydney becoming a shittier place to live over the last 15 years.

"I see the issue of lockouts being far greater than just being allowed to enter a venue after 1.30am. To me, lockouts represent long-standing urban planning problems, a disrespect for how the many tribes of Sydney choose to enjoy themselves and, most importantly, the increasing denial of access we have to our own city."

Read the full statement below.

Koh's statement comes just days after a debate was held in Sydney to discuss the lockouts, in which he told theMusic that he believes Australia's political parties are slowly coming around.

"They’re certainly a long way from where they were at the start of the year when they were pretty staunchly supporting the measures, where as now they are leaving it to the review," Koh said.