An estimated 10,000 people have marched against Sydney’s lockout laws, organisers say, at a protest supported by Jimmy Barnes, Urthboy, One Day and The Jezabels’ singer Hayley Mary.
Keep Sydney Open’s Tyson Koh told Guardian Australia he was very pleased by the number of people who came to the march from Belmore Park to Taylor Square.
“This is our second rally now, our first one was back in February,” Koh said. “We proved then that this is an issue that the people of Sydney were going to fight for and with today’s showing of 10,000 people we’re showing the same thing eight months later.”
Legislation requires central Sydney venues to turn people away from 1.30am, serve last drinks by 3am and ban the sale of takeaway alcohol after 10pm.
Opponents say the laws are killing off the city’s nightlife, with venues being forced to close and hundreds of jobs disappearing.
An independent report, which was handed to the state government in September, recommends a two-year trial in which the 1.30am lockout and 3am last-drinks measures are relaxed for live entertainment venues.
“I made a career playing in live venues in Sydney. I learnt my craft playing in those venues,” Cold Chisel frontman Barnes said in a video for the Keep Sydney Open group.
He said attendance at live-music venues had dropped 40% since the lockout laws were introduced.
“The lockout laws aren’t working. We’ve got to help keep music alive and keep Sydney alive. Let’s find a better way to do it,” Barnes said.
Other artists spoke at the event, which also included live performances from hip hop supergroup One Day and Paul Mac with Stereogamous.
“It’s been an absolutely fantastic day and not only are we protesting the lockout laws and fighting for a better Sydney that stays open late and is more diverse and inclusive but we’re also showing Sydney’s best version of itself,” Koh said.
“When people come together and they’re dancing and there’s music and there’s positivity and there’s young and old people all in the same space it shows how wonderful this city can be. I’m just over the moon about it.”
With Australian Associated Press
