The infamous Newcastle restrictions will finally be lifted for the first time in 13 years, bringing the city back in line with the rest of the state and ending a protracted era of treating people going out at night “like criminals”.
The NSW State Government has announced a trial that will see the tough patron lockout and trading hour restrictions lifted.
This follows the retraction of the highly contentious lockout measures applied in Sydney’s Kings Cross earlier this month – originally spawned by the proclaimed successes in the so-called ‘Newcastle solution’.
AHA Newcastle and Hunter President Rolly de With said the trial is testament to the hard work of Newcastle licensees and the community and could not come at a better time for an industry continuing to struggle with the impact of COVID.
“There’s no doubt Newcastle has matured significantly in the last 13 years and we have confidence our patrons will respect this new opportunity to enjoy the same night-time freedoms enjoyed by the rest of NSW.”
Loyal local Stephen Hunt holds the keys to a suite of half-a-dozen pubs in and around the city and says the trading rules have brought institutional change.
“As a publican in the Hamilton Newcastle area for nearly 20 years, I have seen many changes to the way pubs have had to operate in response to changes in the economy, legislative changes such as to smoking laws, gaming law changes, and the GFC.
“The lockout of 2008 has arguably been the most controversial.”
Hunt suggests it has often been overlooked or lost in agendas that the objectives of hoteliers and the advocates of the laws are inherently the same.
“No publican in their right mind wants antisocial behaviour in and around their pubs,” he says. “Apart from it being bad for business, it’s bad for employees … so the goal is the same for us both.”
The AHA notes that a range of conditions, including greater CCTV coverage and the advent of ride-sharing to get people home, have contributed to a very different dynamic, but also that licensed venues will have the option to ease into the revised arrangements.
“This decision acknowledges the changes our city, community and culture has undergone in that time,” noted de With. “There has also been a cultural change; it’s obvious anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated by hoteliers or the wider community.
“Our zero-tolerance policy on bad behaviour will continue. We support the imposing of penalties on any venue or operator who does not adhere to creating a safe and responsible venue after-dark.
“Current trading hours will not be extended, and it will also be at each venue’s discretion as to whether they choose to keep current entry policies in place.”
Hunt is looking to return to having his venues feel more hospitable, and views the approach as inherently anti-hospitality.
“From the outset I found the term ‘lockout’ offensive. For me it conjures up thoughts of the lockouts that were imposed in the Gloucester area, where all convicts had to be in certain areas before the gates were closed. If they did not make the curfew they were punished.
“The difference between then and now is that they were convicted criminals, while in 2008 the people punished were and are everyday people.
“Surely in a modern-day society we do not have to treat innocent people who are out for a night of hospitality like criminals. Surely there is a better way.”
While full details of the government’s plan have not yet been disclosed, Hunt says he supports it in principle – providing clear objectives are defined, the appropriate parties are involved in genuine consultation, and results of the measures can be properly measured.
“We do not want to go down a path of data mining of statistics from all involved to push varying agendas,” he adds.
“Let’s get together and make this a viable outcome for all.”