Your input sought on lock-out laws and last drink legislation
The public is being invited to have its say in an independent, evidence-based review of the 1.30am lockouts, 3am last drinks and 10pm takeaway liquor laws that will be led by a former High Court judge, Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice Troy Grant announced today.
Mr Grant said the NSW Government had appointed former High Court Justice, the Hon. Ian Callinan AC QC, who helped establish the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption in Queensland, to lead the statutory review of liquor laws which were introduced in 2014 in response to alcohol-fuelled violence.
The review will assess the effectiveness of the 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks legislation that apply in Kings Cross and Sydney CBD precincts while also looking at the state-wide 10pm restriction of take away liquor sales. The review will also examine the periodic licensing fee system for NSW licensed venues.
“The Callinan Review will provide an independent, open and transparent assessment of the state’s liquor laws, focusing on the facts, to advise the NSW Government on the future of these laws in NSW,’’ Mr Grant said.
“I want to make it clear it does not have a foregone conclusion ”“ it will be guided by the evidence and the experiences of the people of Sydney and NSW.
“Hearing from the public and all interested stakeholders will be a crucial component of the Callinan Review and I encourage anyone who has a view to express it in writing.
“Mr Callinan is the right man for the job because he has a lifetime of experience leading evidence-based inquiries and exercising the independence of an official of the highest court in our country.”
The review’s terms of reference include examination of the impacts on alcohol-related violence and other harms and impacts on business, patrons and community amenity.
Mr Callinan will provide his final report to Government in August 2016. Government will consider the findings and recommendations before providing a response later in 2016.
He will be assisted by Senior Counsel, Jonathan Horton and the Destination NSW, NSW Police Force, NSW Health, Liquor and Gaming NSW, Treasury and Premier and Cabinet
Submissions can be made online or by mail. Further details of the review and consultation process are available at http://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/liquorlawreview
Additionally, the NSW Government will host a Safe and Vibrant Sydney Nightlife Roundtable and feedback from this roundtable will be considered as part of the Callinan Review.
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