Bar bosses set up million dollar slush fund to fight lock out laws
by Leon Gettler
Gold Coat night club head honchos are knuckling down for a fight with the Queensland government over the state’s lock out laws.
They have put together a million dollar fund to challenge the laws in the court, claiming widespread industry support.
Hollywood Showgirls owner Craig Duffy, who is one of the leaders of the bid, said night club owners had already received encouraging legal advice and were now waiting for a written opinion from a Queens Counsel. Court action was expected to start next month.
The legal firepower won’t come cheap: the Queens Counsel report cost $17,000 but Duffy said operators had already put up the money.
“We are ready to go to court and we have already raised a substantial slush fund of money. It is close to seven figures, we are not mucking around. We have some serious people behind us and will probably gather more as we get into the trenches,’’ Mr Duffy told the Gold Coast Bulletin,
“There seem to be strong grounds for taking this government to court and getting these laws reversed. We are trying to get them out before they are implemented.”
The Labor-led Government has brought the 3am lockout and 5am last drinks forward two hours in a bid to tackle alcohol-related violence. The new 3am last drinks rule starts on July 1 and 1am lockout on February 1. The industry claims it will hurt tourism and the hospitality industry.
“These laws are going to affect a lot of people not just nightclub owners. It’s kebab shop owners, taxi drivers, bar staff. It’s going to cost a hell of a lot of jobs,” Mr Duffy said.
However, he would not disclose what kind of arguments the industry would put up in court as that would “let the cat out of the bag”.
15th March 2016
