Yesterday’s BOCSAR media release raises some interesting statistics and prompts the questions – were the 1.30am lockout and 3.00am last drinks restrictions imposed on 24 February 2014 really necessary in the circumstances? Also, are the next round of restrictions to commence on 18 July 2014 really necessary as well?
These restrictions affect licensed premises in the defined Kings Cross Precinct as well as the defined Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. The 1.30am lockout is already having a devastating effect on Kings Cross venues, many of which fear that their banks will be appointing receivers.
According to the latest BOCSAR figures, non-domestic assaults in licensed premises within the Kings Cross Local Area Command have fallen 30.5% in the last two years and 10.7% over a five year period. In the City of Sydney Local Government Area, the figures are 15.1% and 5.2% respectively.
So these statistics beg the question, why were the 24 February 2014 restrictions necessary, when there was already an established downward trend?
This downward trend is not something which has appeared overnight on the BOCSAR website. A BOCSAR Issues Paper No.87 published June 2013 records a 23.7% decrease in assaults on licensed premises over the period January 2007 to December 2012.
So why is it necessary for the Government to continue with these blanket-type measures, imposed on internationally recognised entertainment precincts, instead of pursuing targeted measures, like prosecuting non-complying venues, or putting more police onto the streets to apprehend violent offenders?
The answer is that it’s easier this way, particularly given the woeful police prosecution record.
