CHANGES TO SYDNEY’S LOCKOUT LAWS COULD SEE A FLOW-ON EFFECT IN NEWCASTLE

Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Newcastle Hunter branch has welcomed the removal of the controversial lockout laws across Sydney’s CBD, saying it will undoubtedly help to re-invigorate the night-time economy and and possibly act as a catalyst for changes in Newcastle.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday announced the changes, which will also remove restrictions on serving cocktails, shots and drinks in glasses after midnight and remove the 10pm curfew on bottle shop opening hours.

The 1.30am lockout laws will be removed from venues across the Sydney CBD and Oxford Street from 14 January 2020, and AHA Newcastle President Rolly de With hopes the Hunter region will follow in the state capital’s foot steps.

“It is our hope that this decision will mark a turning point both for the city of Sydney, and eventually Newcastle, in reaching their full potentials as vibrant, diverse and economically viable cities after dark,” Mr de With said.

A potential review of Newcastle’s current interventions, based on the success of Sydney’s relaxation of restrictions, was included in the suite of recommendations provided by the Joint Select Committee on Sydney’s Night Time Economy.

“Since interventions were imposed upon Newcastle in 2008 our city has undergone significant change including unprecedented development within the business and tourism sectors and hosting national and international sporting events such as the Supercars Newcastle 500,” Mr de With said.

“We hope this decision made by the State Government will act as a catalyst in allowing Newcastle the chance to also move forward without the interventions of the past.”