Labor’s live music and lock-out plan

By BENEDICT BRUNKER

The NSW Labor Party has released it’s plan to save Sydney’s nightlife by introducing a new liquor licence, which will allow live music venues to stay open longer than the current lockout laws permit.

Labor’s Seven Point Plan to bolster the live music industry across the state was unveiled last week by the Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen, and former Mayor of Leichhardt Darcy Byrne.

The plan includes delivering better public transport over the weekends, and to the appointment of a “night mayor” of Sydney to encourage the growth of the night-time economy. The plan also includes a “night-time economy roundtable” to encourage consultation between the government and industry in reviewing the regulation of the sector.

The Labor opposition also proposes to strategically encourage the growth of local music and culture and to review the approval process for small bars struggling stay viable.

Ms Haylen unveiled the proposals last week and was critical of the government’s neglect of Sydney’s struggling nightlife economy.

“Mike Baird doesn’t understand what the lock-out laws have done to Sydney’s live music scene. We’ve lost venues, jobs and many of the things we love about Sydney,” she said.

“Labor’s plan is about recognising that live music and creative industries are at the heart of Sydney and that we need to be proactive about supporting them, including a new class of liquor license. Labor will also trial 24-hour transport on weekends. We know we can have a safe city, but a fun city too.”

Mr Byrne also condemned the lockout laws and their negative impact on Sydney’s live music scene.

“Musicians and music lovers have been warning that as venues shut their doors across Sydney the next generation of artists are being left without any spaces to get a start in the industry,” he said.

“Creating a new category of licensed live music venues can give the sector a shot in the arm and lead to the proliferation a new kind of venue in the inner west and across metropolitan Sydney.

“Because people consume alcohol differently when it’s combined with cultural activity, live music venues can be the antidote to the the plague of beer barn violence.”

The plan is released after Premier Mike Baird announced that his government’s controversial lock-out laws will be relaxed.
The Labor opposition has supported Mr. Baird’s changes to the laws. Furthermore they have staked out their position as the party for NSW’s youth and seek to further damage the government’s reputation with young people.

Labor’s proposal also comes after high-profile criticism of the laws from Sydney musicians Montaigne and Flume at this year’s ARIA awards.

Flume implored the government to reconsider the laws: “Please keep Sydney open so that the young artists of the next generation can have the same opportunities that I had.”