Why are so many people so angry about the new lockout laws?

“Sydney used to be a laid back place where we’re welcome the world to come throw a shrimp on the barbie.” says Barrie.

“Now if you do that and someone takes offence to the smoke, the NSW Government will fine you $1,100 for the first offence, $2,200 for the second and probably put you on a registered barbecue offenders list.“

Sydney loved being Australia’s ‘cool’ city – a popularity contest they are now losing by miles.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

It’s an argument that’s come up at many times during the protests – do you ban all the cars on the road, just to prevent a car accident? No. You monitor how people drive. You create a safe driving environment. You strategically manage an activity which functions to keep society moving along safely.

Similarly, if the government expects the venues to enforce the steely RSA guidelines, why can’t we expect the government to do the same on our streets?

“Tell ’em to go to the pub.”

Eddie had a booking for 60 people in the private, enclosed, courtyard area of his Bondi bar, ‘Neighborhood’. A quiet venue, Neighborhood is a hotspot for families, celebratory Saturday night dinner groups, and locals who can’t go past the venue’s traditional Sunday roast.

Knowing how difficult the local liquor licensing board can be, Eddie called in advance to alert them to the event. It was a degustation, he explained, and they wanted to stick around for a quiet drink afterwards. The liquor licensing rep had a simple solution: “Tell ’em to go to the pub.”

Small businesses in the food and beverage industry are being frozen out. It’s next to impossible to get a liquor license these days, and why would you want to? According to Eddie, you weren’t even allowed to stand at the bar with a glass of wine at his Newtown venue. You had to be seated. With a full meal.

Oh, but remember: if you do want to stand up with a glass of shiraz without the steak, you can just pop down to Barangaroo.

Dark, empty, unsafe.

This is what our city will look like before long. Fear has been stirred up by greedy Barangaroo-funded parties, and their scare-mongering has pushed the Sydney community out of the safe and clean venues into outer-city locations that are unregulated and unsafe.

And whether you’re a club-going kid, a corporate at Friday night drinks, or a family visiting Vivid festival by the harbour – that is not what our city is about.

Look south for inspiration, Mike. 

A resident of Melbourne for eight years, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have cut my teeth in such a vibrant and creative community.

I would walk home from work at 3 or 4 in the morning through St Kilda without any fear, as the streets were flooded with locals still laughing over bottles of wine.

I could hail a taxi in the early hours of the morning on Collins Street without worrying about my safety, as there were people still zigzagging from venue to venue.

But most importantly, this is where I met my people. They were the ones in sparkly disco outfits performing on tables at midnight. They were the bar staff and owners who became like family. They provided the colour against what was otherwise a bleak student existence, evolving into the eclectic and genius circle of friends I still surround myself with today.

And without that, where would any of us be?

Mike Baird, take heed: stop looking to the silent suburbs as your inspiration for a perfect city centre.

Melbourne can do it, why can’t you?