Published
Thu, Nov 28, 2019, 11:46
- The controversial restrictions will no longer apply in the CBD and Oxford Street from January 14th.
Sydney's lockout laws have been scrapped everywhere except the Kings Cross nightlife precinct.
From January 14th, the controversial licensing restrictions, which were introduced in 2014, will no longer apply to bars and venues in the city's CBD and Oxford Street areas, ABC News reports. This removes the 1:30 AM last entry rule, though the cease of service time, which many hoped would also be repealed, has only been pushed back 30 minutes to 3:30 AM.
Other amendments to the laws include lifting restrictions on serving drinks in glass after midnight and extending bottle shop opening hours to midnight from Monday through Saturday and 11 PM on Sunday.
Keep Sydney Open, the grass roots movement-turned-political party that's been protesting the laws since 2014, posted via Facebook that this was "the news we've been waiting for!" That said, because the cease of service times remain, they will "continue to fight on these fronts."
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also supports the news, though she insists public safety remains the top priority. "Sydney has transformed dramatically over recent years, and we need to ensure we have a strong and vibrant night-time economy that reflects our position as Australia's only truly global city," she told ABC.
The lockout laws were introduced to stem alcohol-fuelled violence after two young men died in street fights. The NSW Government has been reviewing their impact since May 2019.
Read Keep Sydney Open's post in full.
For more on Sydney's nightlife and the impact of the lockouts, watch our recent Real Scenes film.