Sydney lockout laws

The Sydney lockout laws were introduced by the Government of New South Wales from February 2014 to January 2020 in the CBD and Oxford Street (and until March 2021 for Kings Cross) with the objective of reducing alcohol-fuelled violence.

In September 2019, a NSW Parliamentary committee recommended that the lockout laws should be removed by the end of the year, with the exception of Kings Cross, where restrictions will be retained.

[9] Similar killings on the streets of Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD in that period included those of Calum Grant in 2011,[10] Wilson Duque Castillo in 2012[11] and Lucio Rodrigues in 2013,[12] bringing the tally to "five deaths in three years".

[18] The regulations defined the new 'CBD entertainment precinct' as the region bounded by Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Cockle Bay, The Rocks and Haymarket, including parts of Surry Hills.

[23] Most licensed small bars (maximum 60 people), restaurants and tourist accommodation may stay open past 3am, although alcohol service is not permitted after this time.

[27] Representatives from peak medical organisations such as the Australian Medical Association NSW and hospitals such as St Vincent's testified to the efficacy of the laws in reducing violence, trauma and injury, saying they made a difference: “We've gone from a time when people were dying, to a time when people are not dying.”[28] Several venues in Kings Cross have closed since 2014, with several owners blaming the lockout laws for shutting down the late-night economy or a decrease in trade.

[33] Controversy over the lockout laws centred around finding a balance between encouraging "night life" with the associated sale of alcohol and preventing injury resulting from alcohol-related violence.

[37] Organisers claimed that the laws alienated young people and destroyed the live music scene, while allowing The Star casino to remain open.

[44][45] In December 2016, the NSW Government released its response to the review and said it would relax the lockout law for live music venues by a half-hour in a two-year trial.

[48] In October 2018, Members of the NSW Government were reported to be considering relaxing the laws due to the negative impact on businesses and the reputation of Sydney on people seeking to holiday in the city.