People power cracks through protest restrictions

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has issued a 14-day extension of the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) but committed to ensuring Invasion Day rallies on 26 January can proceed.

Greens MP Sue Higginson had written to the Police Commissioner urging him to facilitate a peaceful march through central Sydney on 26 January despite the inability for a form 1 protest authorisation.

Greens MP, Spokesperson for Justice and Solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“Street marches are an accepted and anticipated part of Invasion Day rallies which have taken place on 26 January for nearly a century. It’s clear the Commissioner has recognised this and rightly bent to the will of the people,

“Last Sunday I attended the rally against Blak Deaths in Custody which occurred under these restrictions in Hyde Park and I was utterly astounded at the wasteful number of police in attendance. The number of police required to prevent a peaceful street march on Sunday far exceeded the number of police that would be required to facilitate a peaceful march through the streets, I certainly hope police have woken up to the absurdity of these broken laws,

“At Sunday’s rally hundreds of people declared that they will march on Invasion Day, restrictions or not. It’s frankly a relief to see the police have chosen to accept that the people have the right to assemble and the absolute will to march for First Nations justice,”

“Australians care deeply about First Nations justice, gathering and marching this Invasion Day has never been more urgent. 2025 saw record rates of First Nations Deaths in Custody and more First Nations kids locked up than ever before. The fact is we are not closing the gap, under the Minns Labor Government the gap is widening,

“We still need to question why these restrictions are in place, it seems fairly obvious they have been extended to try to continue to capture the pro Palestine protest movement and in particular any protest against the Israeli President’s apparent visit in early February,

“It’s downright frightening that Labor Premier Chris Minns, who is shamelessly pro-Israel, has given himself the tools to try and silence dissent against the Israeli Government. That is how authoritarian regimes operate, not democracies,” Ms Higginson said.

Bright spot in a difficult week as Greens win National Firearms Safety Council

In a week dominated by controversial hate speech laws there’s been one piece of genuinely good news that deserves to be celebrated: the Greens working with gun safety advocates have secured a commitment from the Government to establish a National Firearms Safety Council. This is an historic win for evidence-based firearms policy that might otherwise have been lost in the headlines.

The commitment was communicated by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to the Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters. The Greens will work with the Government to ensure the composition of the board meets community expectations. 

We thank the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Gun Control Australia and the Public Health Association of Australia for their continued advocacy and work calling for a National Firearms Safety Council. 

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: 

“The passage of the new firearms laws this week includes several crucial gun safety measures that advocates have campaigned for over many years, and we have now also secured a commitment from the Government for a National Firearms Safety Council. 

“The Council will provide evidence-based oversight to ensure firearm laws consistently prioritise public safety across Australia which is exactly what the Greens and advocates have been calling for. 

“A Firearms Safety Council is an important future-proofing of our new gun laws against politically motivated deals struck by politicians to weaken laws and harm community safety. 

“We also know that as technology advances and data is more deeply understood, that there will be future changes to gun laws we can and should make and having a body focused on public safety advising the government on this will be critical. 

“This is in addition to the National Gun Buyback which we know from the 1996 National Firearms Agreement is an important way to reduce the number of high risk firearms in circulation. 

“Likewise these new laws have strengthened background checks based on strong intelligence sharing and will meaningfully contribute to community safety.  

“This achievement came from listening to gun control advocates, survivor groups, and our community who care deeply about community safety.

“The Bondi massacre exposed dangerous flaws in our national firearms laws that the Greens have been highlighting for many years including the proliferation of private arsenals in suburban homes. (See our website www.toomanyguns.org) 

“We’re not America and in Australia there is no right to have a gun, owning a gun is a privilege not a right, and the community expects our laws to be based on careful regulation for public safety. 

“Now we need state and territory governments to follow through with restrictions on firearms capable of mass shootings through a new National Firearms Agreement and take steps to do their part on gun buybacks. 

“We have worked with gun control advocates including survivors of gun violence for many years and this is a much deserved win for them and the community.” 

Greens join with Orange community to reject proposed greyhound racing complex

The Central West Greens were joined by Greens NSW MP and spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Abigail Boyd, to add the Greens’ endorsement and support to the community campaign opposing the proposed Orange greyhound racing complex, and explain the Greens’ statewide plan to phase out greyhound racing across NSW.

The Greens spoke to media following a community workshop organised by a coalition of concerned residents and advocates regarding the details of the Development Application (DA) for a greyhound racing complex to be located at 32 Perc Griffith Way, Orange. The DA is currently being considered by Orange City Council and proposes to reconfigure the old unused harness racing track into a greyhound racing track, clubhouse, over a hundred greyhound kennels and a 123 space car park and 16 space car-and-trailer parking area.

Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare Abigail Boyd:

“The community here in Orange has made it clear they don’t want this socially irresponsible development of a proposed greyhound track, whose plans and community impacts keep morphing and changing but stubbornly refuse to stack up.

“Since GBOTA first announced plans to build a new mega greyhound facility in Orange – at the time touted as a so-called “Centre of Excellence” – the Orange community has loudly and consistently voiced objection to this misuse of public land which has already been earmarked as an ideal area for housing and residential growth.

“The Greens oppose the expansion of the greyhound racing industry in NSW. The people in Orange and surrounding areas deserve so much better than being lumped with a track that will be used to exploit greyhounds, welcome increased gambling and its associated social harms into the local community, and prop up an industry that should have been shut down years ago.

“In the decade since it was almost shut down, the greyhound racing industry has shown that it is incapable of reform, with dog injury and death rates higher than ever. The recent report from Commissioner Drake was scathing, and yet here we are with the greyhound racing industry continuing as if it hadn’t lost its social licence years ago.

“For so long as this cruel gambling-fuelled industry is allowed to continue, where the objective of making money overrides all concerns for animal welfare, we will continue to see unacceptable animal abuse.

“Greyhound racing has had its second chance. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars in public money it has been handed, dogs are still dying at the hands of this industry. It’s time to shut greyhound racing down for good, not continue to open more unwelcome tracks.”

Greens Orange City Councillor David Mallard:

“The proposal to bring greyhound racing to Orange should be rejected by our community and by Orange City Council. The site proposed for the greyhound track was identified in our 2022 Local Housing Strategy as a potential residential growth area. With the upcoming Redleaf development on Council land nearby the land has a much greater value to our community as a future stage in delivering new homes, including affordable housing.

“Now that concrete plans for the proposed development have been submitted, it’s clear that the claimed social and economic benefits of the track to the community and region were massively overblown. And the proposed track won’t deliver a so-called ‘Centre of Excellence’ that prevents the harms and risks associated with the existing greyhound industry – in fact, it would barely meet the minimum standards set for the industry.

“I’ve argued from the outset that the proposal to hand this site over to greyhound racing is against our community’s interest and that the arguments for bringing a track to Orange don’t stack up. Now that the Development Application is under consideration, I encourage community members to engage with the proposal and voice their concerns about the problems with the plans to give the greyhound industry a track in our city.”

Housing crisis fuelling intergenerational inequality

A new generation, Gen X, has taken over as Australia’s richest property owners, thanks to boomers downsizing and ‘passing on the baton’. Meanwhile, house prices in all capital cities, apart from Canberra, are now at their highest-ever levels according to new data, with six capitals now in the ‘million-dollar club’.

The Greens say this is yet further proof of a housing crisis that’s spiralling out of control.  Labor must wind back tax breaks for property investors, or younger first home buyers will continue to be locked out as housing inequality worsens. 

Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“We don’t have a functioning housing system in Australia; we have a generational lottery, where young people are faced with a lifetime of renting, precarious leases, and a housing market rigged against them. Housing should not be an intergenerational tug-of-war.

“Australia’s housing system is rigged for the wealthy; it’s a system designed to drive up the cost of housing, generating enormous wealth for the few while increasing rents for the many who haven’t won the generational lottery. Instead of everyone having a roof over their head, houses have become an investment asset class – which fuels intergenerational inequality. 

“Massive tax breaks for wealthy property investors are cooking our housing system. Negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts let cashed-up investors outbid everyday Australians — and young people, single people, low income workers are the ones paying the price.

“This is why the Greens have secured a Senate inquiry into intergenerational housing inequality. The Greens’ inquiry will interrogate the full scope of Australia’s intergenerational housing inequality, including the $181b tax breaks for wealthy investors that are locking out first home buyers, as well as the political barriers to reform. 

“We know tax breaks for wealthy property investors are a key driver of the housing crisis and intergenerational inequality but Labor refuses to act. This government has an opportunity to fix the housing crisis — but if they keep dodging real reform, they’ll lock a whole generation out of ever owning a home.”

Shadow Cabinet Resignations

Australians deserve moral clarity when confronting antisemitism, hate and extremism, and the Albanese Government has failed to provide it. Instead of careful, considered lawmaking, it put forward deeply flawed legislation.

The Coalition engaged constructively and in good faith. The Shadow Cabinet met on Sunday night, examined the legislation, and unanimously agreed on a clear path forward in the national interest.

The unanimous Shadow Cabinet decision was to negotiate specific fixes with the government and having secured those amendments, members of the Shadow Cabinet were bound not to vote against the legislation. 

Those fixes narrowed the scope of the bill, to ensure Islamist extremists could be more easily deported and neo Nazi groups readily disbanded.

I acknowledge this was a difficult issue for the Nationals’ party room and that they had three different positions across both houses of the Parliament. Some members voted against the legislation, another voted for it and several took a deliberate decision to abstain.

When the Coalition reformed in May last year, the foundational principle underpinning that agreement was a commitment to Shadow Cabinet solidarity.

Yesterday, in several conversations, I made it clear to David Littleproud that members of the Shadow Cabinet could not vote against the Shadow Cabinet position. The Shadow Cabinet was unanimous in its endorsement to support this Bill subject to several amendments that we did then secure. This has been acknowledged by Nationals’ Senators this morning.

Last night, three Nationals senators were unable to maintain that Shadow Cabinet solidarity. This is an unfortunate circumstance and one that requires action. I thank David for understanding this.

Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Ross Cadell have each offered their resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, as is appropriate, and I have accepted them.

All three Senators have written to me confirming that they “remain ready to continue serving the Coalition in whatever capacity you consider appropriate…”

I have asked each to continue serving in our Coalition team, across their various parliamentary and committee duties, but from outside the Shadow Cabinet.

I have also asked the Leader of the Nationals to provide three new nominees for appointment to the Shadow Cabinet and I await his advice.

Maintaining a strong and functioning Coalition is in the national interest. The Coalition exists to serve the Australian people. But Shadow Cabinet solidarity is not optional. It is the foundation of serious opposition and credible government.

I am proud of the Liberal Party I lead and my Shadow Cabinet team. We took a decision, in the national interest, to step up and fix legislation that the Albanese Government badly mishandled.

The Liberal Party will always strongly defend freedom of thought, freedom of worship and freedom of speech.

Australia Day in Newcastle to feature family fun and free pool entry

Novocastrians can make a splash on 26 January without dipping into their pockets with City of Newcastle offering free entry to its inland pools from 1pm.

Standard fees will apply before 1pm at Lambton, Wallsend, Beresfield, Stockton and Mayfield Pools, with kiosks to be open at all five facilities, while the operating hours of the waterslide at Lambton will be extended until 5pm.

The free entry proposal was approved by the elected Council in June last year as part of a $2 entry fee trial at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend pools for the 2025/26 swimming season.

Councillor Callum Pull, who proposed the free entry, says it’s a great way for families to enjoy quality time together without the expense.

“Afternoon free entry on Australia Day allows the community to come together and enjoy the public holiday while promoting social cohesion and wellbeing,” Cr Pull said.

“Our $2 entry fee trial is proving popular at Wallsend, Beresfield, Stockton and Mayfield so I’m sure Novocastrians will take full advantage of free entry on Australia Day.

“City of Newcastle and our specialist pool operator BlueFit will ensure there is an appropriate number of lifeguards on duty to keep the community safe.”

City of Newcastle is also supporting a range of events and initiatives to bring the community together on the Australia Day long weekend.

Swimmers will be diving into a different body of water on 26 January with hundreds expected to take part in the 30th anniversary of Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club’s popular Newcastle Harbour Swim.

Competitors can attempt a single crossing from Stockton to Queens Wharf or the double crossing which also starts in Stockton, as part of the only legal swim across a working harbour.

On 25 January, City of Newcastle is supporting the fifth year of Ngarrama, a free public event in King Edward Park.

Councillor Deahnna Richardson, proud Wiradjuri woman and co-chairperson of City of Newcastle’s Guraki Standing Committee, said it’s an opportunity for the community to reflect on traditional life in Mooloobinba before 1788, and our journey towards reconciliation.

“Ngarrama celebrates the richness and resilience of First Nations culture, in particular the Awabakal and Worimi people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which Newcastle now stands,” Cr Richardson said.

“Ngarrama translates to ‘to sit, listen, and know’ and as the name captures, it will be a time for listening and quiet reflection through the sharing of stories, knowledge and culture.”

The long weekend will also feature the sixth action-packed edition of the Beach 5s Rugby Festival at Nobbys Beach from 24 to 26 January, with a record number of teams registering for the event and free entry for spectators.

The program for Monday 26 January includes several Indigenous exhibition games, the Liam ‘Grump’ Gallager memorial match and the All Star Legends clash featuring Kurt Gidley’s Newcastle Knights up against the Talk2MeBro All Stars.

Beach 5s rugby is based on modified rules of Rugby Union, Rugby League and Touch Football with no lineouts, scrums or conversions.

For a change of pace, Newcastle Museum is also hosting a free event featuring three days of fun on the water across the long weekend.

Museum Park will come alive with working model boats, hands-on activities for kids, science shows and plenty for families to explore.

The event will include live sailing circuits, docking and manoeuvring demonstrations, tugboats and steam-period demonstrations, while on Sunday visitors will have the chance to make and sail sustainable bark canoes.

For more information head to the VisitNewcastle website:

https://visitnewcastle.com.au

Vale Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

On behalf of the family of Dame Marie Bashir, I am saddened to share the news of her passing.

Married to Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE for 61 years, and a deeply loved mother of three children and six grandchildren, Dame Marie was an extraordinary Australian and one of New South Wales’ most respected public servants.

On behalf of the people of New South Wales, I extend my deepest condolences to Dame Marie’s family, friends and all those who were inspired by her remarkable life.

Dame Marie Bashir served our state with distinction as the first female Governor of NSW from 2001 to 2014, bringing to the role immense dignity and compassion.

Reflecting on her 14 years as Governor, Dame Marie Bashir explained that she deliberately chose not to extend her tenure beyond that point, despite being widely respected, because she did not wish to surpass Sir Roden Cutler as the longest-serving Governor.

It was a decision that reflected her humility and deep respect for those who came before her.

She was a distinguished psychiatrist and a long-standing advocate for mental health, education and social inclusion.

The people of New South Wales held Dame Marie in great respect and affection, reflecting the trust and goodwill she earned over a lifetime of service.

In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to our state and nation, a State Funeral will be held in honour of Dame Marie Bashir. Details will be provided in due course.

Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO served as Governor of New South Wales from 1 March 2001 to 1 October 2014 and was the first woman to be appointed to the role.

Born in Narrandera in the Riverina district of New South Wales, and educated at the Narrandera Public School and Sydney Girls High School, Marie Bashir completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Sydney in 1956.

Professor Bashir taught at the Universities of Sydney and NSW, increasingly working with children’s services, psychiatry and mental health services, and Indigenous health programs.

At the time of her appointment as Governor of New South Wales, she was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney; Area Director of Mental Health Services Central Sydney; and Senior Consultant to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern and to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Kempsey.

She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 for her services to child and adolescent health, and was invested by Her Majesty, the Queen, with the insignia of a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2006.

In June 2014, Professor Bashir was named as a Dame of the Order of Australia for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to the administration, public life, and people of New South Wales, to medicine, particularly as an advocate for improved mental health outcomes for the young, marginalised and disadvantaged, to international relations, through the promotion of collaborative health programs, and as a leader in tertiary education.

NSW housing completions hit five year high

NSW has recorded its highest housing completion numbers in five years, with 13,057 homes completed from July to September 2025. This is the highest quarter for the state since March 2021.

NSW is also continuing to lead the nation with more than 75,000 homes under construction as new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows further momentum building in the state’s housing pipeline.

According to the latest ABS data, housing completions in NSW are trending up by 37 per cent in the September quarter compared to the June quarter.

Dwelling commencements are also up nine per cent year one year, hitting 12,887 for the September quarter, which is the highest they’ve been since June 2023.

All of these figures show that the Minns Labor Government’s nation leading reforms and initiatives are starting to work together to build a better NSW.

In fact three quarters of the increase in housing across NSW was the result of SSD applications driven by Minns Government policy changes.

Our reforms include:

  • Transport Oriented Development
  • Low and Mid-rise Housing policy  
  • Infill Affordable Housing Scheme
  • The Housing Delivery Authority
  • Pre-sale Finance Guarantee

There’s more work to do, but the state’s landmark planning reforms which passed the parliament last year are designed make it easier to build homes in NSW.

The Minns Labor Government is restoring housing choice and diversity and rebalancing housing growth towards existing infrastructure to fill a gap in new housing supply that had been left unaddressed for decades.

Minister for Planning and Public Space Paul Scully said:

“In the last term for the Liberals and Nationals Government housing construction collapsed, we’re turning this around.

“These figures are an encouraging sign that all the work the Minns Labor Government has been doing to turn the planning system around and unlock more homes right across NSW is showing results.

“These aren’t just numbers, they are real homes being delivered for the people of NSW. Each completion means a new key in a new door to help address the state’s housing challenges and give people the ability to choose the neighbourhoods they want to live in.

“We know there’s still more work to be done but more houses are being approved and more houses are being built and that’s welcome news.”

Pre-sale Finance Guarantee unlocks Inner West homes

The Minns Labor Government’s world-leading Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program is helping fast track new homes with a redevelopment in the Inner West receiving the first guarantee under the $1 billion scheme.

More than 225 new apartments, including 59 affordable homes, will now start construction sooner as part of the $285 million Rozelle Village revamp of the derelict former Balmain Leagues Club site on Victoria Road, which received state significant development approval last year under the Infill Affordable Housing pathway.

The mixed-use precinct also includes retail spaces, community facilities, and a public plaza.

The Guarantee is supporting 32 affordable homes off the plan, giving developer PERIFA confidence to secure construction finance and deliver much-needed homes in the Inner West.

This arrangement gives the developer time to lock in a Community Housing Provider to purchase and manage the project’s affordable homes, with a guarantee the Government will buy the 32 units if the level of qualifying pre-sale requirements is not met prior to project completion expected in 2028.

Since the launch of the program in October, 31 Expressions of Interest have been received from developers across the state, with a third of these already invited to submit full applications.

In addition to the Rozelle Village project, over $100 million worth of pre-sale commitment requests have been received and are currently under assessment. If approved, this support will unlock the construction of over 350 new homes across metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW.

Under the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, the Government may commit to buy, off the plan, up to 50 per cent of homes in approved developments, valued at up to $2 million each. Support can range from $5 million to $50 million per project, the Guarantee then allows developers to achieve commercial construction finance.

Up to $1 billion in pre-sales over the next five years will be supported through the revolving fund, making sure more projects can move from approval to construction.

The challenge of meeting pre-sale requirements is one of the most common issues cited by stakeholders in securing finance, and has been outlined as a key hurdle for industry in the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of housing supply challenges and policy options for New South Wales. Only developers and projects that meet strict criteria for credibility, capability, and capacity to deliver are approved and invited to participate in the program.

  • The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee is just one of the measures introduced by the Minns Labor Government to speed up the delivery of housing in NSW, including:
  • Landmark reform to the State’s planning legislation
  • The NSW Housing Pattern Book

The largest rezoning in the state’s historyFor more information, or to apply, visit the Planning website.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This is exactly what the $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee was designed to do – move approved projects from paper to construction.

“By providing a targeted pre-sale guarantee, we’re giving the market the confidence it needs to secure finance and start construction, without the Government having to spend a dollar upfront.

“This is a smart use of the State’s balance sheet, stepping in where the market has stalled, but only on projects that are credible, approved and ready to build.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee uses the Government’s strong credit standing to help bring to life prime housing developments, including sites like this one in Rozelle that sat dormant for years. It allows more new homes to be delivered faster, creating jobs, and easing housing pressure for families across NSW.

“Rozelle Village is a great example of how our housing reforms and initiatives are working together to deliver great results.

“This project was approved under the Infill Affordable Housing Pathway to deliver 59 affordable homes and now, through the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, we’re making sure those homes are built sooner.

“By removing planning and financial roadblocks, we’re giving developers and lenders certainty, boosting housing supply, and creating vibrant communities where people want to live which means more people in more new homes quicker.”

PERIFA Group Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said:

“Rozelle Village is set to become the Inner West’s most vibrant, mixed-use precinct catering to the local community and residents.

“The location provides excellent access to local employment and the critical Infrastructure that key workers rely on every day.  Strong demand for our development is already evident, with pre-sales for market homes exceeding expectations.

“As the first developer to be accepted into the NSW Government Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee, we are now able to accelerate construction of these much-needed homes, while working to secure the right Community Housing Provider, ensuring long-term social impact and community benefit.”

End of an era: last drinks for remaining lockout laws

Exactly 12 years since the lockout laws were announced and began damaging Sydney’s night-time economy, the Minns Labor Government is removing the final major lockout conditions, including the 3:30am ‘last drinks’ rule.

Removing these restrictions aims to boost the nighttime economy right across the former lockout areas: Kings Cross, Oxford Street and the Sydney CBD.

As part of this final farewell to the laws the NSW Government is also repealing the mandated use of plastic cups and the requirement for RSA marshals after midnight for certain venues, and the blanket per person drink limits and the ban on the promotion of shots during late trade in the precincts.

After targeted consultation and a downward trend in alcohol related nighttime assaults, a review by Liquor & Gaming NSW found these conditions were no longer fit for purpose and safety could be maintained through a targeted, case-by-case approach and ensuring individual venues are adhering to existing RSA requirements, Plans of Management and licence conditions. This ensures good operators are not punished just because they’re operating in the former lockout area.

The review determined three measures should be retained – the violent incident registers, preserving crime scenes and a ban on Outlaw Motorcycle Gang colours or insignia.

Announced by Liberal Premier Barry O’Farrell on the 21st of January 2014, the lockout laws were imposed on the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross in response to the violence problem at the time. This involved a package of measures applied to all licensed venues in the designated area, including the 1:30am lockout provision after which no new patrons could enter a venue.

This policy had the unintended consequence of damaging the city’s live music scene and Sydney’s reputation as a global city, with over half our music venues going out of business in the following decade.

In January 2020, just weeks before the pandemic arrived in Australia, the former government removed the 1:30am lockout provisions from the CBD and Oxford Street, followed by Kings Cross in 2021. Since that time, alcohol related night-time assaults have followed a downward trend in the former lockout areas.

Since coming to office in 2023, the Minns Labor Government has introduced three tranches of vibrancy reforms that have banned single-neighbour noise complaints, reformed the noise complaints system and removed unnecessary regulations that increased the cost and administrative burden for hospitality operators and decreased the enjoyment of patrons. Those regulations included rules that forced patrons to sit down outside venues, sign up for memberships at clubs if they were living within 5kms and even dictated which genres of music venues could program.

The $110 billion NSW night-time economy is undergoing a revival across a wide range of precincts, with eight new Special Entertainment Precinct going into trials in locations including Fairfield, Rozelle and Marrickville.

In total, there are 20 local councils working to establish Special Entertainment Precincts including Kiama, Tamworth, Manly, Cronulla, Burwood and Liverpool.

Live music is at the centre of the revival with more than 521 venues now taking up the government’s extended trading hours for programming music, which is almost four times the number of venues than when the government took office.

For more information –L&GNSW Sydney CBD and Kings Cross precincts – liquor licence conditions.

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“Twelve years to the day since they were announced, we are now declaring the lockout laws have been completely abolished. I’m delighted to say goodbye to this chapter of Sydney’s nightlife story.

“The lockouts had good intentions but a diabolical impact on the night-time economy and the reputation of our city. These were the laws that saw Madonna and Justin Bieber not allowed into their own afterparties, and the decimation of the club scene that spawned Rufus Du Sol and Flight Facilities.

“Once we had a closer look at all the regulations restricting the NSW night-time economy, we realised the lockouts were just the tip of the iceberg. Since coming to office we’ve been slashing the red tape that was pushing venues out of business and stopping grown adults having fun.

“We’re rebuilding the night-time economy neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood so that people right across NSW have exciting and diverse nightlife options closer to home.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“I’m pleased to call time on the lockout laws after a thorough and considered review by Liquor & Gaming NSW found no compelling reason to single out licensed venues in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross with outdated restrictions.

“Instead we’re being far smarter with safety via targeted, risk-based regulation of venues rather than blanket conditions to ensure those doing the right thing are not hammered by a blunt instrument.

“The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has confirmed downward trends in alcohol-related violence in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross over the past five years following earlier changes to lockout laws. These included an extension of last drinks from 3am to 3.30am and the repeal of the 1.30am lockout.

“Existing measures under the Liquor Act, such as Responsible Service of Alcohol laws and the ability to still impose restrictions on high-risk venues, will help continue to ensure a safe, responsible and vibrant hospitality sector.”

Australian Hotels Association Director of Policy Chris Gatfield said:

“This is great news – Sydney couldn’t be considered a truly 24-hour city until these lockout restrictions were removed.

“This is another very welcome reform by the Minns Government – it comes on the back of many others which have already made a real impact on Sydney’s nightlife.”