NSW Liberals signal about-face on Sydney's controversial lockout laws
Sydney's controversial lockout laws could be scrapped for most of the CBD with the NSW premier hoping the move will enhance the city's nightlife.
Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday conceded it was time to boost Sydney's night-time economy after a cross-party parliamentary committee review of the laws earlier in the year.
"While we will await the committee's report, I agree it's time to enhance Sydney's nightlife," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement to AAP on Sunday.
"Sydney is Australia's only global city and we need our nightlife to reflect that."
The premier will move to lift the 1.30am lockouts in the CBD entertainment district but the law will remain in place for Kings Cross.
The legislation was introduced in 2014 after the one-punch deaths of Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie in a bid to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.
Ms Berejiklian hopes to introduce changes to the contentious legislation by the end of the year.
According to a City of Sydney report, the lockout laws have resulted in thousands of jobs lost, a crippled live music and performance sector and the loss of nearly half a million visitors every year.
However, submissions from various medical related associations cite a reduction in alcohol-related violence.
A report by Deloitte Access Economy found the lockout laws have attributed to a $16.1 billion loss to Sydney’s night time economy.
The report said Sydney’s night time economy is currently worth $27 billion, when it could have been worth $43.3 billion.
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