No venues in the worst category of NSW violence list

By Andy Young

Liquor & Gaming NSW has reported that for the first time since the state’s violent venues list was established, it will soon be clear of venues in the restrictive level one category.

The list is updated twice a year with the latest list being published on 1 December and it will show the number of alcohol-related incidents at venues over a 12-month period. 

This week’s violent venues list shows that the number of violent incident at listed venues has decreased by 38 per cent to 112 – the lowest since the scheme’s inception. This also represents a 91 per cent drop in incidents from the 1270 incidents reported in 2008.

Minister for Justice Troy Grant welcomed the improvement by venues and said that the latest figures on the violent venues list shows venues are heeding the message that running a violent venue is not just bad for the public, but bad for business.

“The number of violent incidents are trending down and people can be confident that they will be able to enjoy safe nights out this summer,” Grant said. 

“This government has taken strong action and worked with the industry to achieve these results."

“Our focus remains on targeted approaches that allocate resources where they are needed rather than blanket one-size-fits-all methods.”

Venues that record 12 or more make the list and are subject to strict conditions. There are eight venues in the level two category on the latest list, down from 12 in June, with seven venues being removed altogether.

Earlier this year, TheShout reported that in its submission to the Callinan Review, Merivale said that a venue’s capacity should be taken into account before adding them to the violent venues list, arguing that comparing Ivy – with a capacity for hosting 50,000 patrons in a week – to a hotel that has a daily capacity of 300 people makes no sense.

The details of the violent venues list are below:

Level One venues – Nil