IT’S SPREADING: QLD’s State Government Will Pass Proposed Lockout Laws

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has reached a compromise with the Katter Australia Party, and as a result the state Government will pass liquor lockout laws that will apply to licensed venues across the entire state.

The compromise reached means that the Labor Government has the numbers to get the laws passed successfully.
From July, a 2am last drinks call will apply to all licensed venues in Queensland, with the exception of those venues that fall within so-called “Safe Night” precincts. Those within those precincts can apply for an extension to a 3am last drinks call. The laws also mandate that no shots be sold after midnight.
The lockout will apply from 1am for venues inside Safe Night Precincts, and will come into effect from February 1st, 2017. An independent review into the laws will take place in July 2018.
The laws also include the provision to apply area-bans for people convicted of drug related offences. Previously, only people convicted of violent offences such as assault could be banned from entering Safe Night Precincts.

Queensland currently has 15 Safe Night Precincts allocated, which covers Airlie Beach, Brisbane CBD, Broadbeach CBD, Bundaberg CBD, Cairns CBD, Fortitude Valley, Gladstone CBD, Inner West Brisbane (which includes Caxton Street), Ipswich CBD, Mackay CBD, Rockhampton CBD, the Sunshine Coast (covering Caloundra, Maroochydore, and Mooloolaba), Surfers Paradise CBD, Toowoomba CBD, and Townsville CBD.

The new lockout laws, lo and be-fkn-hold, do not include the state’s Casinos. Who would’ve thought?
The laws are set to be put to a vote at 4pm today, where they will pass through the Queensland state lower house.
Source: Courier Mail.
Photo: Robert Shakespeare/Getty.

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