By AndyYoung
New South Wales deputy premier and justice minister Troy Grant has appointed former High Court judge the Hon. Ian Callinan AC QC as the chair of an independent review of the effectiveness of Sydney's lockout laws.
Callinan, a retired Justice of the High Court of Australia, will lead the evidence-based review of the 1.30am lockouts, 3am last drinks, 10pm take away liquor laws and the periodic licence fee system.
In announcing Callinan's appointment Grant said: "The Callinan Review will provide an independent, open and transparent assessment of the state's liquor laws, focusing on the facts, to advise the NSW Government on the future of these laws in NSW."
And despite Premier Mike Baird saying earlier this week that "it is going to take a lot for me to change my mind on a policy that is so clearly improving this city," Grant said the findings of the review were not pre-determined.
"I want to make it clear [the review] does not have a foregone conclusion," Grant said. "It will be guided by the evidence and the experiences of the people of Sydney and NSW.
"Hearing from the public and all interested stakeholders will be a crucial component of the Callinan Review and I encourage anyone who has a view to express it in writing.
"Mr Callinan is the right man for the job because he has a lifetime of experience leading evidence-based inquiries and exercising the independence of an official of the highest court in our country."
The review's terms of reference include examination of the impacts on alcohol-related violence and other harms and impacts on business, patrons and community amenity.
Callinan will provide his final report to Government in August 2016, which will then consider the findings and recommendations before providing a response later in 2016. Callinan will be assisted by senior counsel, Jonathan Horton and the Destination NSW, NSW Police Force, NSW Health, Liquor and Gaming NSW, Treasury and Premier and Cabinet.
The review will also be informed by data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, as well as information provided by community and business stakeholders.
The government said that the release of an issues paper and a call for formal submissions will occur shortly, however in the meantime you can send your feedback on the 1.30am lock out, 3am last drinks, 10pm take away liquor restrictions and periodic licence fee system to liquorlawreview@justice.nsw.gov.au.
You may also post your feedback to: Liquor Law Review Team, GPO Box 7060, Sydney NSW 2001.
The NSW Government has also said it will host a Safe and Vibrant Sydney Nightlife Roundtable and feedback from this roundtable will be considered as part of the Callinan Review.