Police and health representatives will be among speakers at a "protest meeting" being held this week for those who oppose the decision to wind back the city's liquor control laws.
The NSW government announced last month an end to pub and club lockouts under a year-long trial to start in the middle of this year.
The changes include removing drink restrictions, scrapping the 1.30am venue lockout and extending liquor trading hours from 3am to 3.30am for participating venues. Inner-city Newcastle and Hamilton are the only parts of NSW with lockouts still in place after the government removed them in Sydney's CBD and Kings Cross.
The announcement came on the final day of a six-month trial of relaxed late-night trading restrictions in small bars and restaurants.
Newcastle anti-violence campaigner Tony Brown, who has slammed the trial as a "betrayal" of the emergency workers and community members who had fought to keep the "life-saving" conditions intact, said the meeting at St John's Church Hall on Thursday evening was a chance for those who oppose the changes to hear from a range of stakeholders.
The four main speakers at the meeting will include Professor Adrian Dunlop of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, Sergeant Ian Allwood of the NSW Police Association, Dr Anthony Cook, who was the community representative on the small bars trial committee, and Mr Brown, a longtime advocate for alcohol harm prevention.
The meeting will be held from 5.50pm to 7.30pm. Those wanting to attend must RSVP via email to ncgnetwork2020@gmail.com.
"Residents, small businesses and concerned citizens who oppose the weakening of our existing package of modest alcohol harm controls are invited to attend," Mr Brown said.
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