Despite review, Newcastle lockouts look like they’re here to stay

Much to the disappointment and annoyance of venue operators, Newcastle’s lockout laws look like they’re staying as they are.

The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) which commissioned the review, called The Horton Report, has not accepted recommendations by barrister Jonathan Horton QC.

They looked at the conditions imposed on the liquor licences of 15 late trading hotels in the Newcastle CBD in 2008.

The 15 venues requested the appraisal through the NSW chapter of the Australian Hotels Association, to revoke or change some of the conditions, similar to what Sydney had done, and which Horton had been involved in.

The ILGA decided that rather than do the evaluation in isolation, that Horton look at the broader picture.

Between November 2017 and February 2018, Horton, received over 90 written submissions from a number of stakeholders including NSW Police, public health bodies, academics, licensed businesses, industry bodies, private individuals and special interest groups.

The Horton Report recommended that venues that showed good practice and lower risk have many restrictions loosened.

It also suggested that cocktails and spirits be available for sale after 10 pm.

However the ILGA has decided that 1am/1:30am lockouts and 2:30am/3am closing remain, and that venues continue to employ a staff member after 11pm to supervise the responsible service of alcohol.

Alcohol must still stop being sold 30 minutes before closing, the ban on the stockpiling of drinks continue, along with the ban on shots shooters, slammers or bombs “or any other drinks that are designed to be consumed rapidly."  

There are two administrative changes, however.

The current quarterly auditing of plans of venue management is to be replaced by an annual review in consultation with NSW Police

The use of a common radio network among the 15 venues is to be revoked because the technology is out of date.

The stakeholders have 21 days to respond, and the ILGA will then make a decision.

AHA NSW Newcastle and Hunter President Rolly De With called the ILGA’s decision “disappointing” in that it continued to take a “one size fits all” approach rather than review each of the 14 venues individually.

Blake McCloy of Lucky Country Hotel told the Hotelier that “Newcastle has grown and come a long way in the past decade … yet it seems we are still living in the dark ages with rigid restrictions that prevent businesses to trade to their full potential and hence impeding a thriving night life.”

The Family Hotel’s Steven Forbes, who now closes his venue at midnight, told the Hotelier that while lockouts affect the city’s nightlife, its music scene and jobs, “(they) still haven’t led to a reduction of violence, they have only moved the violence to other areas of the state.”

Newcastle City Council earlier called for venues “with a proven record of consistent exemplary” to be exempt from some conditions, with new smaller venues attracting a “more sophisticated, responsible crowd”.

The venues affected are Cambridge Hotel, Civic Hotel, Clarendon Hotel, Crown & Anchor Hotel, Customs House, Ducks Nuts, Fanny’s of Newcastle, Hotel CBD, King St Hotel, Lucky Country Hotel, MJ Finnegans, Queens Wharf Brewery, Grand Hotel, Great Northern Hotel and The Dockyard.