Lot's Wife Edition 2 2016

SOCIETY
It is simple for
governments
and police forces
to restrict the
liberties of young
people, so as to
win the votes
of Herald Sun
readers.
Moreover, Rich is adamant that the government needs
a serious focus on alcohol health policy, to achieve better
acute and long-term health outcomes. “We need to encourage
people to drink less alcohol, for health reasons, regardless
of the violence. Unfortunately, the health concerns are
not as visible as the rowdiness on the street.” This is another
major problem with the government’s purported benefit: the
hysteria surrounding lockout laws means that the incredibly
important conversations regarding alcohol health policy are
obscured by governments with perverse incentives.
So we’ve established that claims of government and
police are dubious at best. But what about the harms caused
by the lockouts?
The decimation of small business has been explored
extensively in the media, particularly in Barrie’s essay.
However, a city is not just its economy: the character and
soul of the city is largely defined by its nightlife and culture.
A city’s live music scene is particularly important for this.
Baird’s incredibly patronising Facebook post described
the effect of the lockouts as, “that you can’t drink till dawn
any more and you can’t impulse-buy a bottle of white after
10pm.” What Mr Baird does not understand is that a city’s
nightlife is much more than the means for you to get gacked
with your mates.
A city’s nightlife is the beating heart of the city.
The buoyant atmosphere when the streets are filled with
revellers. The excitement of dancing into the morning. The
wonder of exploring lanes and alleyways that are so changed
from their daytime visage. These things are essential to a
city’s culture. The entertainment industry cross-pollinates
other aspects of our culture: food, music, art, sport. What
various governments do not seem to understand is that for
cities to be liveable, they need culture. Not state-sponsored
growth plans and redevelopments, but organic, grassroots
culture.
An essential part of this culture is the live music
scene. Venues that cater to live music feed the unique character
of the city that develops through its local music. More
importantly, it provides a means for small bands to form,
develop, and grow. Without a vibrant live music culture,
many budding bands would never get off the ground. Recent
figures show a 40% drop in live music revenue, and the
closure of several iconic Sydney venues such as Soho and
Hugo’s Lounge. These venues have been bastions of Sydney’s
culture for generations, and cannot easily be replaced.
How does the situation in Sydney compare to
Melbourne? In 2008, the introduction of lockouts was immediately
met with widespread public protest, with strong
backing by the live music industry, and venues such as the
Toff. By contrast, in Sydney the opposition to the lockouts
was initially sluggish and only began to convincingly marshal
itself this year. What a difference this has made.
In Melbourne, Premier Daniel Andrews’ government
actively encourages a vibrant late-night culture. People are
not prevented from going out and enjoying themselves with
a drink, but are able to immerse themselves in a cosmopolitan
and thriving culture. People don’t just go out to get
fucked up. They are able to enjoy all night celebrations of
culture such as White Night, night markets, and moonlight
cinemas. Importantly, the Victorian government’s new
public transport Night Network also facilitates safe and
accessible travel for people who want to be in the city late
into the night. Allowing people to safely enjoy themselves is
what makes a great city.
Stopping violence is imperative for governments
everywhere. However, we need to recognise that violence
does not only occur on the streets. We also need to look at
the health effects of alcohol, rather than just the violence
that it might prompt. According to Rich, “there are other
ways of achieving [a reduction in violence], and these laws
come at too great a cost at some people’s freedom... In
Victoria, people curbed their behaviour without the lockouts,
and violence also decreased.” What is needed is government
and community led cultural change, rather than
arbitrary controls on when and where we can have fun.
The lockouts represent a cynical political calculus that
looking tough on law and order will win over nervous conservative
older voters. It is a clever ploy, and it has worked.
In NSW, the lockouts enjoy majority public support. These
dreadful laws will help to ensure Baird’s government is
re-elected, but at the price of breaking Sydney’s heart.
20 | Lot’s Wife