2AM Shutdown Proposed For Queensland

Local News, By Lady Lex, 3rd November, 2009

Frustration is rife among the clubbing and music community following a proposal from the Queensland Police Union that would enforce a 2am club lockdown throughout Queensland. With excessive cases of drunken behaviour and violence on our streets cited as the reasons for this movement in protecting Queensland club-goers and emergency service workers, the proposal is especially focused towards clubbing hotspots, including Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, parts of the Brisbane CBD, Gold Coast’s Surfers Paradise and parts of the Sunshine Coast. Under the proposal, entire entertainment districts would be closed from 2am with suburban pubs, clubs and hotels banned from trading after midnight.

QPU General President Ian Levers provocatively suggested that “a 2am shutdown would be more effective than Queensland’s controversial 3am lockout and proposed glass bans. Let’s stop the chaos on our streets. We can see no good reason to continue drinking until 5am in the morning. Most of the USA and Europe have 2am closing times and the very same problems are currently being experienced in New South Wales and Victoria. Let’s follow the trend.” Most astonishing is Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s sudden backflip on the matter. Previously in favour of regulated late night trading, the Lord Mayor now says “on the basis of the advice I have received, I have to say today that we need to get behind the things [the unions] are talking about. I’m here out of desperation.”

Queensland’s mainstream media are running wild with the proposed action, inviting the community to contribute their thoughts on the issue. Elders, schoolmarms and preachers from as far flung as Beenleigh to Sherwood, Redcliffe and Caboolture – the very people who most probably don’t even venture outside of their front door beyond 8pm on the weekend – are all jumping onboard the “say no to violence and intoxication” bandwagon with their antiquated opinions. The danger here is that an out-of-touch contingent will ignore the heart of the reasons for the problems in the first place – which arguably, can be traced back to the 3am lockout. Since its inception in 2005, it has only caused intense frustration and havoc on our streets as crowds of intoxicated revelers are locked out of venues, with a poor public transport system and limited taxis keeping them concentrated in the one area.

The deadline of Friday October 23 has passed where opinions and submissions about Alcohol were sought from the community for the Government-driven Valley Liquor Accord Patron Survey. With this most recent and startling announcement, the late night hospitality industry especially are up in arms at the looming possibility that their jobs may be on the immediate front line.

The rest of Australia had better watch out, as you could be next.