By Andy Young
The Callinan Review into the effectiveness of the New South Wales lockout laws and liquor sales restrictions, has been delayed by two weeks.
Former High Court judge, the Hon. Ian Callinan AC is looking into the impact of the 1.30am lockout, 3am cessation of liquor sales, 10pm take-away liquor laws and the annual liquor licence fee program. He was due to deliver his report by the end of August but sought an extension following a recent Supreme Court decision regarding the lockouts.
After approving the extension request by Mr Callinan, the NSW Government will now receive the independent review on 13 September.
The Supreme Court decision, as reported earlier, saw State Supreme Court Justice Natalie Adams rule that the NSW Justice Department does not have the legal authority to declare Sydney CBD venues subject to the lockout laws introduced in 2014 under former premier Barry O’Farrell.
Mr Callinan said that he wanted to see further evidence and examine the Supreme Court decision in more detail.
In a statement about the extension the Government said: “The Government is committed to ensuring a comprehensive statutory review of the suite of laws brought in two years ago to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.”
Mr Callinan has received more than 1,800 public submissions as part of his review as well as further input as a result of three roundtables into Sydney’s night-time economy.
