EMC Panel Review: Non-domestic assault was dropping before the lockouts

It has been almost a year since Sydney’s lockout laws were passed by former Premier Barry O’Farrell and according to a panel of speakers at yesterday’s Electronic Music Conference (EMC), the government-funded research being carried out only asseses the tip of the iceberg.

On a panel with Kirsty Brown (Co Founder of Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance 'Keep Sydney Open' and CEO of Music NSW), Alex Greenwich (Independent MP), Damian Cunningham (Director, National Live Music Office), Raul Gonzales (Licensee, The Backroom) and Clint O’Hanlon (Licensee, World Bar), the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Jackie Fitzgerald, said she is looking at violence across the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct.

In her statistical review on non-domestic violence, Fitzgerald found that non-domestic assault was dropping before the 1:30am lockouts and 3am last drinks laws were put in place on February 24.

“Non-domestic assault was dropping before the lockouts were put in place […] Prior to that lockout, there was just saturation from the media, and it’s not unfathomable that that caused a decrease. It’s caused a decrease wider than in the lockout venues, or in the zone.”

While Fitzgerald is still in the process of looking at violence-related statistics, she said she is reviewing whether the violence in Kings Cross that sparked the new laws has been displaced to exempt areas like Newtown and Pyrmont. The Bureau of Crime Statistics hopes to have preliminary results out in February to say whether there’s been a decrease.

Critically, Fitzgerald said one of the value of the economic impact isn’t in scope of their evaluation and that it’s not within their expertise to report on ‘why’ there has been a decrease or an increase in non-domestic assault.

“We only look at crime statistics and if we do find a decrease, we’re not going to be able to tell why it has reduced,” she said. “So we’re not going to be able to say ‘the people at the venues are consuming less alcohol and that’s why there’s been a decrease’ or whether there’s just fewer people.”

“You need to weigh up that decrease with the economic impact in order to evaluate the policy,” she added.

Damian Cunningham from the National Live Music Office discussed the benefits of an independent review of all economic impacts. The Hotels Association are currently doing an evaluation as is the NSW Treasury, but neither are independent.

“There is a very broad sweep of things that we can bring into this conversation,” said Cunningham, citing violence, drug and alcohol abuse and venue revenue impact among other evaluations.“There is an opportunity. If we dispel it down to individual elements of it, we’ll get caught within those.”

It should be noted that The Backroom was forced to close its doors in October andWorld Bar lost 20% of all revenue and staff.

Fitzgerald said a push toward the academies for an independent study could see economists dig a little deeper.

“Even if you could look at the number of text messages pre and post sent, that would give you solid data of patronage,” she added.

Sydney'sIndependent MP Alex Greenwich was one of the two MPs who opposed the law and expressed his disappoint that the music industry was not consulted. He reminded the panel of a parliamentary enquiry geared by George Souris, who was Hospitality Minister when the reforms came into place. It recommended an independent review as soon as the impact data is released.

“Specifically it also called for an investigation into behaviours in live music venues,” said Music NSW CEO Kirsty Brown. “[…] I think it’s possible that we can pull together enough resources and there is enough anecdotal information and organisations like the Live Music Office and Music NSW that are anecdotally collecting information and that will feed into something more serious.”

Brown urged people to know whom they are voting for come State election time.

Greenwich also said he is especially interested in comparing the 2015 New Year’s Eve – when the lockout will be lifted for the night –with this year’s when the Government reviews the reform in the coming months. His platform, if elected, would see the 1:30am lockout gone, the 3am cessation of service gone and most interestingly, for the1:30am lockout to be used as a penalty for venues who aren’t practicing RSA and are having assaults in their venues.

Greenwich also has an issue with the handful of venues in the CBD area who make a large proportion of their revenue from gaming. They have received an exemption from the lockout on the basis that they stop serving alcohol at 1:30am. It should also be noted that the Casino at Star City is exempt from the lockout as is the 22-hectare area that surrounds Barangaroo;yes, the site currently being developed by billionaire James Packer.

“My concern now is that it’s okay to go out and gamble your pay packet. But it’s not okay to go out and have a drink and see some live entertainment,” said Greenwich.