Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 3 February 2016, the Senate referred the ‘need for a nationally-consistent approach to alcohol-fuelled violence’ to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee,

(ii) late night violence and alcohol abuse has terrible consequences and is putting health and law enforcement services under tremendous pressure,

(iii) other large cities have retained a vibrant night life by providing 24 hour public transport, a range of support services and policing, and diversity in the density of licensed premises,

(iv) since the Sydney CBD entertainment precinct’s lockout laws commenced there have been huge costs to creative communities, live performances have declined by 40 per cent, jobs have been lost and dozens of venues have closed,

(v) on Sunday, 21 February 2016, about 15 000 people protesting in Sydney against the lockout policy of the New South Wales Liberal/National Government singled out job losses, the lack of personal freedoms and lost opportunities for young people as key concerns, and

(vi) residents and visitors to Sydney’s entertainment precinct should not be punished due to the behaviour of a small minority, and local communities should have a right to choose whether or not to have state lockout laws imposed on their localities; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to urge the New South Wales Government to work with the community and key stakeholders to find innovative and integrated long-term solutions that will keep Sydney vibrant, open and safe.