Exactly 12 years since the lockout laws were announced and began damaging Sydney’s night-time economy, the Minns Labor Government is removing the final major lockout conditions, including the 3:30am ‘last drinks’ rule.
Removing these restrictions aims to boost the nighttime economy right across the former lockout areas: Kings Cross, Oxford Street and the Sydney CBD.
As part of this final farewell to the laws the NSW Government is also repealing the mandated use of plastic cups and the requirement for RSA marshals after midnight for certain venues, and the blanket per person drink limits and the ban on the promotion of shots during late trade in the precincts.
After targeted consultation and a downward trend in alcohol related nighttime assaults, a review by Liquor & Gaming NSW found these conditions were no longer fit for purpose and safety could be maintained through a targeted, case-by-case approach and ensuring individual venues are adhering to existing RSA requirements, Plans of Management and licence conditions. This ensures good operators are not punished just because they’re operating in the former lockout area.
The review determined three measures should be retained – the violent incident registers, preserving crime scenes and a ban on Outlaw Motorcycle Gang colours or insignia.
Announced by Liberal Premier Barry O’Farrell on the 21st of January 2014, the lockout laws were imposed on the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross in response to the violence problem at the time. This involved a package of measures applied to all licensed venues in the designated area, including the 1:30am lockout provision after which no new patrons could enter a venue.
This policy had the unintended consequence of damaging the city’s live music scene and Sydney’s reputation as a global city, with over half our music venues going out of business in the following decade.
In January 2020, just weeks before the pandemic arrived in Australia, the former government removed the 1:30am lockout provisions from the CBD and Oxford Street, followed by Kings Cross in 2021. Since that time, alcohol related night-time assaults have followed a downward trend in the former lockout areas.
Since coming to office in 2023, the Minns Labor Government has introduced three tranches of vibrancy reforms that have banned single-neighbour noise complaints, reformed the noise complaints system and removed unnecessary regulations that increased the cost and administrative burden for hospitality operators and decreased the enjoyment of patrons. Those regulations included rules that forced patrons to sit down outside venues, sign up for memberships at clubs if they were living within 5kms and even dictated which genres of music venues could program.
The $110 billion NSW night-time economy is undergoing a revival across a wide range of precincts, with eight new Special Entertainment Precinct going into trials in locations including Fairfield, Rozelle and Marrickville.
In total, there are 20 local councils working to establish Special Entertainment Precincts including Kiama, Tamworth, Manly, Cronulla, Burwood and Liverpool.
Live music is at the centre of the revival with more than 521 venues now taking up the government’s extended trading hours for programming music, which is almost four times the number of venues than when the government took office.
For more information –L&GNSW Sydney CBD and Kings Cross precincts – liquor licence conditions.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
“Twelve years to the day since they were announced, we are now declaring the lockout laws have been completely abolished. I’m delighted to say goodbye to this chapter of Sydney’s nightlife story.
“The lockouts had good intentions but a diabolical impact on the night-time economy and the reputation of our city. These were the laws that saw Madonna and Justin Bieber not allowed into their own afterparties, and the decimation of the club scene that spawned Rufus Du Sol and Flight Facilities.
“Once we had a closer look at all the regulations restricting the NSW night-time economy, we realised the lockouts were just the tip of the iceberg. Since coming to office we’ve been slashing the red tape that was pushing venues out of business and stopping grown adults having fun.
“We’re rebuilding the night-time economy neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood so that people right across NSW have exciting and diverse nightlife options closer to home.”
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
“I’m pleased to call time on the lockout laws after a thorough and considered review by Liquor & Gaming NSW found no compelling reason to single out licensed venues in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross with outdated restrictions.
“Instead we’re being far smarter with safety via targeted, risk-based regulation of venues rather than blanket conditions to ensure those doing the right thing are not hammered by a blunt instrument.
“The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has confirmed downward trends in alcohol-related violence in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross over the past five years following earlier changes to lockout laws. These included an extension of last drinks from 3am to 3.30am and the repeal of the 1.30am lockout.
“Existing measures under the Liquor Act, such as Responsible Service of Alcohol laws and the ability to still impose restrictions on high-risk venues, will help continue to ensure a safe, responsible and vibrant hospitality sector.”
Australian Hotels Association Director of Policy Chris Gatfield said:
“This is great news – Sydney couldn’t be considered a truly 24-hour city until these lockout restrictions were removed.
“This is another very welcome reform by the Minns Government – it comes on the back of many others which have already made a real impact on Sydney’s nightlife.”
