Brisbane City Council opposes lockout laws: “We’re not spending $4m to send people to bed early”

After a fiery debate about alcohol-fuelled violence in entertainment strips, Brisbane City Council sent a clear message to the Queensland State Government, by vehemently opposing any moves to restrict trading hours of licensed venues.

The Opposition demanded a 1am lockout and the restriction of alcohol service in venues at 3am. Councillor Vicki Howard, who looks after the Fortitude Valley precinct, said cutting back hours would affect the livelihood of venue operators and undermine the city’s current construction plans, stating: “We’re not spending $4 million to revitalise Brunswick Street mall to send people to bed early.”

Kirsty Brown, who heads up Keep Sydney Open, is pleased that other governments aren’t as willing to implement such extreme measures.

“As the lockouts loom over Sydney, ready to be go into effect right before Mardi Gras, it’s dismaying – but also encouraging to see other governments across the country speak out against this model. The evidence, from several failed attempts at lockouts in places like Melbourne and the Gold Coast, is overwhelmingly that the lockouts will not set out to achieve what the Premier hopes for. Alcohol-related violence has been steadily declining, without lockouts, for several years now.

“What we do know, is that live music and cultural spaces that run late into the night are going to see instant and serious reductions to their income, which will have a flow on affect to the number of people they employ and the amount of live performance opportunities for local musicians they can create. These spaces are not subsidised by poker machines or sports-betting, or high-volume capacities with multiple bars, their profit margins are smaller and more precarious- they are providing entertainment as their priority, but also rely on late trading and alcohol sales to make the profits which make their cultural activities sustainable. And let’s not forget that Sydney is now one of the most expenses cities in the world to rent property and employ people in, so when we talk about reductions to profits, we are really talking about a venue’s ability to actually remain open and keep trading.

“It’s pleasing to see Brisbane pushing back against what is becoming a popular band-aid solution for fixing alcohol-related violence. Let’s step back, look at the consequences, look at Sydney’s international reputation, look at our goals for having a successful and safe night-time economy, look at what we’re doing to opportunities for musicians and performers – and work towards a real solution.”