NEWS
The man behind a campaign against proposed changes to trading hours and lockout times for entertainment venues is concerned apathy may cost Brisbane’s music scene dearly.
Queensland Lockedout organiser Zach Salar fears an apathetic approach to an online government survey on liquor industry changes may seriously harm, especially to the Valley Entertainment Precinct.
Mr Salar is urging Brisbane’s youth to vote online and prevent the government from bringing in plans of a 2am lock-out and reduced trading hours on weekends.
“Besides the questions being loaded and offering no alternative responses other than yes, no and maybe, the Government has given Queenslanders until April 16 (Friday) to fill the survey out,” Mr Salar said.
“There’s a groundswell of support opposing lock-outs and especially a 2am one, but sometimes the youth of today are apathetic and don’t react until it’s too late or after it’s been introduced. “We need to be proactive and voice our opinion and concerns with the way this Government has become the rulers of social thoughts and actions and oppose this.”
Mr Salar said Lockedout did not oppose all of the eight questions put forward on the Government survey.
“We want more police in entertainment precincts, safe and frequent public transport system and powers for police to ban offenders from specific areas,” Mr Salar said.
“What we don’t want is draconian laws conjured up because of peer pressure and not based on factual information. “The Parliamentary Inquiry into liquor reform was critical of police for not submitting evidence that a lockout works and an independent observer Professor Ross Homel also slated it.”
The government website survey can be accessed via http://getinvolved.qld.gov.au
