Newcastle liquor laws review gets extension
A review looking at the special conditions that have applied to 15 hotels and bars in Newcastle’s CBD has attracted a great deal of interest.
As a result, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) has extended the deadline for the deadline into its review of Newcastle’s liquor laws by two weeks.
The deadline has now been extended to February 7.
An ILGA spokesman told The Shout that the deadline had to be extended for technical reasons.
“ILGA has extended this deadline from the original date of 24 January after today discovering a technical problem with the email address for receiving submissions (newcastle.review@ilga.nsw.gov.au,” the spokesperson said.
“The problem may have resulted in some submissions not being received. It has been resolved. Anyone who has emailed submission is advised to check it has been received by calling ILGA on (02) 9995 0402.”
The landmark ‘Newcastle solution’ lockout and last drinks laws, which include 1am and 1.30am lockouts, 3am and 3.30am closing times and drinks restrictions after 10pm, was the model for restrictions introduced at Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD.
Barrister Jonathon Horton, QC, who assisted with the Callinan review of the Sydney Entertainment Precinct lockout laws will be conducting the review.
When the review was announced last year, ILGA chair Phillip Crawford said the review was giving the local community, businesses and police and other groups the opportunity to have their say.
The ILGA says there is no deadline for when the review will actually be completed.
Submissions to the review will be made public. However, the ILGA says it has not yet determined when exactly this will happen.
“As part of his review, Jonathon Horton QC has met with key stakeholders in Newcastle to get their feedback and views on the licence conditions that currently apply to venues in Newcastle’s CBD. These meetings will continue this month,” the ILGA spokesman told The Shout.
“Once Mr Horton has finalised his review and drafted his report, the matter will be considered by the ILGA.”
by Leon Gettler, January 25th 2017
