Anti-lockout group registers as political party

The anti-lockout organisation Keep Sydney Open has announced that it has officially registered as a state political party after six months of rallying and campaigning across Sydney. The party will contest in both New South Wales (NSW) houses of parliament in the 2019 elections.

The organisation has held rallies over the past two years all over the city, including being present at festivals.

Since the introduction of the law back in February 2014 in an attempt to combat alcohol-fuelled violence occurring late at night, Sydney’s live music industry has suffered dramatically, even after the half-hour extension introduced in 2016.

The laws, with the extension, require that music venues, bars and nightclubs lock their doors at 2am and call last orders at 3.30am, causing great controversy since its inception, with many calling the Sydney music industry a laughing stock.

Keep Sydney Open spokesperson, Tyson Koh, tells The Music: “By putting lockout laws on the ballot of next year’s election, people now have a real choice and a course of action to rescind these laws, wind back the ‘nanny state’ and build a 24-hour city.

“We all know that Sydney is a magical place, but the magic has been missing for some time”

“For more than over four years, our group has represented every person who believes that lockout laws were a knee-jerk reaction. We see with our own eyes that these laws have devastated the both the night- time economy and reputation of what was once a vibrant international city.

“We all know that Sydney is a magical place, but the magic has been missing for some time. People now recognise that the NSW government is largely responsible for this.

“We advocate for a suite of interventions across transport, law enforcement, public health, creative industries, licensing and planning. An approach that respects data, expertise, genuine consultation, transparency and good governance will have a great impact on the day-time economy too.

“In short, we want to be proud of Sydney again.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.