NSW to introduce 1:30 AM lockouts and 3 AM last drinks to tackle drug and alcohol violence – What does this mean for live music?

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has just announced a series of sweeping measures to tackle drug and alcohol related violence in Sydney.

Unfortunately for the live music industry, these will include the introduction of 1.30 AM lockouts and 3 AM last drinks across an expanded CBD precinct to include Kings Cross to Darling Harbour, The Rocks to Haymarket and Darlinghurst.

Other contentious schemes include “introduction of a periodic risk-based licencing scheme with higher fees imposed for venues and outlets that have later trading hours, poor compliance histories or are in high risk locations.” It was only after a huge public rally in Melbourne that similar legislation that designated ‘live music’ as ‘high-risk’ was repealed.

This does not bode well for Sydney’s live scene.

The full text of the Premier’s press release is available here: 

http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/