Ending Lockouts is Key to Rejuvenating Sydney

The release of the government’s Sydney Night-Time Economy Roundtable Action Plan is a move in the right direction, but doesn’t address the real problems facing Sydney’s nightlife and cultural industries.

Member for Balmain Jamie Parker said:

“Sydney used to be a vibrant, 24-hour city but since the imposition of the lockout laws, we continue to see venues shutting down and our cultural sector struggling.

“If the government is serious about addressing the collapsing night-time economy, it’s not good enough to tinker around the edges. Our night time culture has been eroded by the Liberal-Labor lockouts and until we see changes to those laws, the situation won’t improve.

“The government shouldn’t be telling us what time we need to go home at night. Alcohol-fueled violence can be addressed without shutting the city down. Instead of blanket lockout laws we need flexible and innovative solutions that effectively target the problems.

“While we welcome the idea of a taskforce to advise the government on the next steps for rejuvenating our night-time economy, the real change that needs to happen is an end to the Liberal-Labor lockouts.