Published
Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 02:24
- The local council report also indicates a 50 percent drop in live music venues in the city since 2014.
The City Of Sydney has outlined the devastating effects of lockouts in a 40-page document submitted to the state government.
Amongst other submissions to the NSW Government's ongoing inquiry into the controversial licensing restrictions, the local council's entry provides a range of data that outlines the damage that has been done to the city's nighttime economy, revealing that close to 500,000 fewer people under 35 visit Sydney each year as a result of the laws. They also cite a 50 percent net loss of dedicated live music venues in the City of Sydney's local government area, as well as 50 percent fewer restaurants and only 9 percent of entertainment businesses trading after midnight, leading to "a potential opportunity cost of 2202 jobs and $1.4 billion in turnover."
The document goes on to suggest a suite of 18 changes and initiatives to revitalise the city. These include the abolishment of the 1:30 AM lockout and 3 AM cessation of service, 24-hour public transport on weekends, introducing agent of change laws and the establishment of a NSW Government nighttime economy office.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore commented on the submission, saying "scores of small bars, live music venues, well-managed clubs and pubs have closed, not to mention the shops on high streets that once relied on the foot traffic venues brought in. The lockouts were a sledgehammer to crack a nut, when what we needed were sensible, evidence-based solutions to problems that are faced by all global cities. The good news is that the parliamentary inquiry offers an opportunity to revisit these options, remove the lockouts and bring in other measures that make global cities work."
Close to 800 entries have been made to the parliamentary committee set up by State Permier Gladys Berejiklian in May, which seeks to reexamine and "take stock" of the laws that have been in place since 2014. With submissions to the inquiry closing earlier this month, committee hearings will be held throughout August before a report is delivered to parliament by September 30th.
Read the City of Sydney’s full submission here. All public submissions can also be found on the NSW Parliament website.