Multipronged measures aim for hassle-free nights
The State Government is introducing new late-night bus services from entertainment precincts, something all local stakeholders have wanted for years, and it will broaden regulations on venues in a new program it calls Hassle Free Nights, which will run on a 12-month trial.
New buses around the city, as from 31 March, will service late-night entertainment areas including Kings Cross and the Rocks, with new NightRider buses heading to Bondi Junction and Parramatta (see below for details).
There will be new secure taxi ranks at Darling Harbour, World Square and The Rocks, where the Alfred Street rank will be supervised and a new rank will be located near the corner of George St and Hickson Rd on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tougher new rules will apply to party boats, party buses and karaoke bars, with party buses required to obtain a permit and agree to a code of conduct.
Precinct liquor accords will be broadened and made compulsory, funded 50:50 by the Government and local businesses – mainly alcohol venues but also, in some cases, food vendors.
Data collected to establish the State’s ‘hit list’ of the 48 most violent venues will be broadened to include other violent offences such as grievous and actual bodily harm; drink spiking; murder; riot/affray; manslaughter; sexual assault; and violent disorder. Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says special sanctions applied to the ‘most violent’ venues have drastically reduced glassings and serious assaults over the past 12 months.
Concerns by venues that uneven and unfair conditions have been imposed within the same precinct will also be addressed. The plan is to trial standard liquor licence conditions for similar venues in a precinct, while streamlining the process to reduce compliance costs for venues.
The Liquor Act will also be amended so venues can have their trading hours reduced to 10am–11pm, or variations thereof.
Special events in liquor accord precincts, such as Mardi Gras or New Year’s Eve, could also trigger variations in the conditions applied to venues. Events happening in other areas could trigger the creation of temporary liquor accords in those areas. And Police will be given consistent powers to tip out people’s drinks in alcohol-free zones and alcohol-prohibited areas.
Party buses will not be permitted to enter designated “no go” zones, will be required to provide access to adequate toilet facilities, minimise noise and traffic disruption, stop at designated set down points, and adopt measures to encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol and responsible behaviour of patrons.
New late-night buses
• Kings Cross – a new NightRide service between Central and Bondi Junction Interchange: drop-off service only, hourly.
• The Rocks – late-night bus service from The Rocks and Hickson Road Wharf theatre area, to Town Hall Station – Friday and Saturday nights 9pm (starting from Hickson Road)–4.30am at 30-minute intervals. After midnight the service will start from The Rocks and pick-up points for patrons at existing bus-stops will be supervised.
• Circular Quay to Parramatta Interchange (and return direction) – dropping patrons off along this route and operating Friday and Saturday nights midnight to 3am.
STOP PRESS
Despite the clear reduction in glassings and assaults achieved by targeting the “most violent” pubs, the government’s measures are not tough enough for some. ‘Last Drinks’ is a new campaign being run by the Police Association of NSW, the AMA (NSW), the Health Services Union and the NSW Nurses Association to “help stamp out alcohol-related violence”.
They are calling for statewide application of the 1am lockout/3am closing formula being applied in central Newcastle, claiming it has produced a 29 percent reduction in assaults after dark.
A web page for supporters has been added to the Keep Our Cops site, where you can watch a dramatic Youtube video about the carnage sweeping NSW, complete with scary music and sound effects such as clanging doors and smashing glass. You can check it out at lastdrinks.org.au.
by Michael Gormly
