In response to the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the application of ‘lockout’ laws on some Sydney venues, the review into the policies by Hon. Ian Callinan AC has been delayed.
The Independent Liquor Law Review announced the granting of an extension of “less than two weeks” following a formal request, while Callinan examines further evidence of the Supreme Court ruling.
The case pivoted around the authority of the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Justice to apply the 1:30 am “lockout” and 3am “cease service of alcohol” conditions – commonly known as the ‘lockouts’ – to venues that were until recently considered exempt.
Park Street’s Coronation Hotel instigated the case when its Smoking Panda bar was told the ‘tourist accommodation establishment’ would no longer apply, as Liquor & Gaming NSW had discovered patrons that were not guests of the Hotel.
Justice Adams found in favour of the plaintiff, overturning the laws’ application on relevant licence holders, including the plaintiff and proprietors of ‘public entertainment venues’, which can include some strip clubs, operating under on-premise theatre licences.
Callinan’s mandate is to review the effectiveness of the controversial trading restrictions, and Government reiterated this resolve upon granting the extension, citing its “[commitment] to ensuring a comprehensive statutory review of the suite of laws brought in two years ago to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence”.
The review process has conducted several roundtable discussions, and received more than 1800 submissions to consider.
Its results were expected to be submitted to Government by the end of August, but will now be handed over on 13 September.