Think The Lockout Debate Is Over? Tell That To The Thousands At The Keep Sydney Open Rally

Sydney's controversial lockout laws drew thousands to Belmore Park and Oxford St in the CBD this weekend to support Keep Sydney Open's latest protest march.

Keep Sydney Open leader Tyson Koh, Urthboy, City Of Sydney councillor Jess Scully and others took to the stage to amp up the crowd and shed some light on the situation, with Koh emphatically stating, "They have strangled Sydney's vibrancy and late night culture, they have sacrificed jobs, they have closed down venues, they have hurt the live music scene and of course, dance music scene as well.

"We're here to TELL the government — not ask, TELL — the government that that's not good enough!" he said, to huge cheers.

Scully spoke, reminding the rally that "this is a diverse city, this is a city of many cultures, a city of 200 cultures, a city of many different passions and ways of life and that's what we're fighting for here today. We're fighting for culture, the diversity that creates Sydney, the expression that makes Sydney great."

The organisation estimate that roughly 10,000 people turned up to show their support, bearing signs, banners and wearing costumes to make their voices heard. The streets were lit up with friends socialising, live music on street corners and train stations and the proof that Sydney can have safe fun without being mollycoddled. 

Urthboy took to the stage to emphasise the experiences of a working musician in Sydney, stating, "[Musicians] have no minimum wage. We have next to no superannuation, no financial security and as a general rule we can never be certain of where our next payday is, what tomorrow holds.

"We've never had enough venues in Sydney, we've watched as developers have crowded them with apartment complexes, buildings and whatnot, causing noise complaints [and] they close venues and turn down mixing desk knobs."

The Jezabels' Hayley Mary shared her experience of moving to Sydney 11 years ago, finding it "amazing, like nothing I'd ever seen before". 

"I wrote songs about this city, and started a band, and played all these venues, and it feels like the golden age."