Lockout law review report delayed
The debate over Sydney’s controversial pub and lockout laws is now going to continue with the announcement that the report of the review into the laws has been delayed.
And that means the measures, which included a 1.30am lockout at nightspots and 3am "last drinks" in the city, that were introduced in March 2014, will be around for some time.
The report has been delayed following a landmark NSW Supreme Court decision last week.
The Supreme Court found that sections of the laws iwere invalid in giving the Justice Department secretary the power to declare a venue subject to the law.
Justice Natalie Adams found that certain clauses were “not a proper exercise of the regulation-making power conferred upon the Governor”.
The ruling was in response to a legal challenge launched by CBD bar, The Smoking Panda. Initially, the bar had been exempt from the laws as it is in a "tourism accommodation establishment" area but that exemption was cancelled after a Liquor and Gaming NSW (LGNSW) investigation found non-hotel guests had been visiting the bar.
As a result of the decision, the High Court judge in charge of the review, Justice Ian Callinan, has requested an extension so he can have more time to examine the evidence.
The government says a review of the legislation will be handed to the government on September 13.
"Following consideration by cabinet, Mr Callinan's report will be publicly released and the NSW Government will respond to the findings in due course," a spokesman for Deputy Premier and Arts Minister Troy Grant said in a statement to AAP.
Critics of the laws say the lockouts have forced venues to close and have destroyed Sydney’s once-exciting night life.
On the other hand, a ReachTel poll of 1600 participants released this week found that a gob-smacking 75 per cent of 18–34-year-olds actually supported the laws.
by Leon Gettler, 2nd September 2016
