GREAT FRIDAY FOR SA PUBS

For the first time in more than a century, pubs in South Australia will be able to open on Good Friday, after new holiday trading legislation was introduced last year. A two-year review finally resulted in changes to public holiday

PARRAMATTA EYES CURFEW – AND 216-YEAR-OLD PUB

Parramatta Council has been discussing a proposal to restrict late-trading for much of the precinct’s licensed venues, just as pub history is honoured with the unveiling of buried treasure. Sydney’s second CBD has been experiencing phenomenal growth in the past

ILGA TO REVIEW LONG-STANDING ‘NEWCASTLE SOLUTION’

After nine years and industry pressure, the liquor watchdog will be conducting a review into the special conditions on 15 venues known as the ‘Newcastle solution’. The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) has announced the review and submission

SMOKING BANS & CONSEQUENCES HIT VICTORIA TOMORROW

Victoria will tomorrow join the rest of Australia, plunged into the toxic quagmire and noxious penalties arising from the ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas. Although it is a decade since the bans on indoor smoking came almost universally

ID SCANNERS UNDER FIRE IN QLD VENUES

Less than two weeks into operation and Queensland’s new ID scanner laws are under fierce attack, and the Premier is already hinting they may be changed. Figures released by the Attorney-General on Monday reported 481,758 people have been scanned since

SYDNEY LOCKOUTS: SPREADING VIOLENCE AND TAKING LIFE

Research out of BOCSAR has confirmed the displacement of violence from Sydney’s ‘locked out’ entertainment zones, further confirming the flaws in the laws. Displacement of alcohol-fuelled violence to precincts around the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross has shown a statistically

‘SAFE’ VENUES COULD SEE LOCKOUT EXEMPTIONS

A troupe of stakeholders has banded together to put to government a strategy allowing recognised ‘safe’ venues exemptions to Sydney’s notorious lockouts and trade restrictions. The plan for broadening exemptions is the result of months of consultation between industry and

QUEENSLAND CHEERS AS LOCKOUTS SCRAPPED

Queensland’s government has listened to its constituents and experts from Deakin University, and scrapped plans for the introduction of its contentious lockout laws. An already watered-down version of the ‘Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence Legislation Amendment Act’ 2016 came into effect on

BYE BYE BAIRD: PROTESTORS UPBEAT AS PREMIER DAMPER DEPARTS

Opponents to the NSW lockout laws, WestConnex and Council amalgamations are hopeful the resignation of Minister Baird could begin changes to the unpopular policies. The 44th Premier of NSW, the Minister for Infrastructure and Western Sydney and party leader, resigned