Queensland’s pubs and clubs are staring down the barrel of harsh lockout laws which will impose no shots after midnight, 1am lockouts and 3am shutdowns. The rules, being pushed by the state’s Labor government, are even more strict than the 1:30am lockout implemented in Sydney last year.
As the Brisbane Times reports, the Queensland Labor government is going ahead with its plan to decrease alcohol-fueled violence, which it first proposed while in opposition in January 2014.
All Queensland venues currently have a 3am lockout, and some spots such as the Valley in Brisbane have voluntary lockouts earlier than 3am. Annastacia Palaszczuk‘s Labor government are seeking to enforce 1am lockouts and 3am closing times across the entire state.
Under the proposed regulations, repeat offenders can be banned from entertainment precincts across the state, police will also have the power to breathalyse disorderly members of the public, and can also prosecute venues who breach the Liquor Act.
“We’ll back these laws up with intelligence-led policing and increased liquor licensing inspections as well as education and awareness campaigns,” Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has said.
“Not only are these policies supported by the evidence, they’re also supported by everyday Queenslanders. The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education shows over 80 per cent of Queenslanders support 3am closing for pubs, clubs and bars and over 60 per cent support a 1am lockout.”
Nick Braban, head of the Valley Liquor Accord, has said the government’s plan of action will negatively effect the economy, and possibly even increase law and order issued.
“It is a reaction to a problem which will not go away if some venues close earlier,” Braban said.
“Anti-social behaviour is a cultural problem, not an operational one. People will still engage in poor behaviour because of societal attitudes to drinking. Our concern is that closing the Valley down will simply kill small business, the majority of which are helping to change how adults consume alcohol by offering a quality over quantity experience.
“3am closures, 1am lockouts and 12am cessation of high alcohol drink service will force small, interesting, cutting edge businesses out and allow larger businesses predicated on quality offerings to survive, as they will be best able to ride out the medium term reset in attendance habits.
“We also think it is unrealistic to expert young people not to continue their ‘partying’ habits when bars and clubs close at 3am, or they are locked out at 1am. The party will continue in residential areas, with little to no supervision or control.”
Lobby group No Curfew have also called for “anybody who values Queensland’s nightlife” to join their campaign against the new laws.
A date for the new lockout laws hasn’t been set at the time of writing, but Attorney-General D’Ath said the government will be “talking to licensees, academics and researchers, police, doctors and nurses, ambulance officers, anti-violence campaigners, drug and alcohol research bodies and others” about the plan over the coming months.
The Valley Liquor Accord are seeking meetings with their local Labor MP Grace Grace and Attorney-General D’Ath. New South Wales’ lockout laws are currently the subject of a review.
