NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced the following changes to the liquor licensing and criminal legislation in NSW:
Introduction of 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks across an expanded CBD precinct to include Kings Cross to Darling Harbour, The Rocks to Haymarket and Darlinghurst;
New state-wide 10pm closing time for all bottle shops and liquor stores;
Increasing the maximum sentence to 25 years for the illegal supply and possession of steroids – up from two years;
Increased on-the-spot fines to $1,100 for continued intoxicated and disorderly behaviour disobeying a police move-on order;
Community awareness and media campaign to address the culture of binge drinking and the associated drug and alcohol related violence;
Free buses running every ten minutes from Kings Cross to the CBD to connect with existing NightRide services on Friday and Saturday nights;
Remove voluntary intoxication by drugs or alcohol as a mitigating factor when courts determine sentences;
Increasing maximum penalties by two years where drugs and/or alcohol are aggravating factors for violent crimes including assault causing grievous bodily harm, reckless bodily harm, assault against police, affray and sexual assault;
Enabling Police to impose an immediate CBD precinct ban of up to 48 hours for trouble-makers;
Introduction of a periodic risk-based licencing scheme with higher fees imposed for venues and outlets that have later trading hours, poor compliance histories or are in high risk locations;
A precinct-wide freeze on liquor licences for new pubs and clubs will be introduced.