It Looks Like NSW’s Lockout Laws Are About To Be (Very Slightly) Relaxed
According to reports a number of minor changes will be made to the lockout laws.
One month after the Callinan review recommended a number of changes to NSW’s lockout laws it looks Premier Mike Baird is set to act. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that NSW government will push the lockout from 1:30am to 2am for live music venues. Venues will also be able to serve alcohol for an extra half an hour, until 3:30am.
Yep, a massive 30 minute extension, and only for venues playing live music. The Callinan review had suggested that DJ’ing shouldn’t fall under the definition of “live music” but according to The Daily Telegraph, venues with DJ’s will benefit from the lockout extension.
According to the report bottleshops will also be allowed to remain open until midnight, compared to the current 10pm closing time. No longer will you have to make the mad dash to the bottlo during a house party to avoid the incredibly awkward situation of running out booze before midnight.
There’s no official confirmation yet but the Telegraph has been in good form when to comes to predicting NSW government policy announcements. Earlier in the week they correctly predicted the Premier would humiliatingly back down on his greyhound racing ban.
Keep Sydney Open has responded to the news on Facebook, saying “Pushing back the lockouts by half an hour will do little to help small businesses, the music scene or reinvigorate our dying inner-city precincts.”
The news comes after 10,000 Sydneysiders took to the streets to protest the laws and call for broader changes, including a repeal of the lockouts.
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Feature image via Lee Tran Lam/Twitter