Nightclub Australia: Queensland facing a 3:00am AEST nightclub lockout

Nightclub Australia: Queensland facing a 3:00am AEST nightclub lockout

Nightclub lockout might not be a panacea but it contributes to decrease violence
By: Oliver Koester
February 10, 2006
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AS POLICE records prove a decrease in assault, violent offences and public drunkenness in cities trialling a 3:00am nightclub lockout, Queensland Police Minister is keen to make the system apply state-wide.

Judy Spence, Queensland Police Minister, is promoting a 3:00am AEST nightclub lockout to all clubs, pubs, and bars, prohibiting patrons to enter a licensed venue after 3:00am. These lockouts are already in place in Townsville, Rockhampton, Brisbane and the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

"Everywhere the 3:00am lockouts have been in place for some time, the police report that we've seen a decrease in assault and violent offences and public drunkenness and the community I think is very accepting of them," the Police Minister said.

Despite the success of the lockout in these cities, a consumer tribunal overturned the lockout in Cairns last week. Ms Spence says she is disappointed the tribunal overturned the 3:00am lockout in Cairns. She added that she will be discussing changes to legislation in attempt to introduce the system state-wide with the Premier this week.

"We probably need to look at some sort of legislation to take the tribunal out of the frame and introduce 3:00am lockouts state-wide," Ms Spencde said. "We still acknowledge there's a problem with people getting home at 3:00am and then getting home at 5:00am," she said. "So the 3:00am lockout is not the only solution, we are still going to need adequate police numbers on our streets at those times of the morning in nightclub precincts."


Resource: ABC News - January 23, 2006
                 ABC News - January 31, 2006