By Annette Shailer
The Victorian Government has backed down from a proposed 2:00am lockout for licensed premises in Melbourne following a court hearing that resulted in 45 venues being made temporarily exempt from the lockout, with hundreds more expected to apply for exemptions this week.
The Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ordered a mediation on Friday between the licensees and Liquor Licensing Victoria, where a compromise was reached that included more security guards for 45 of the 47 venues listed in the class action.
“After mediation we reached a compromise or what I would call a back down by the government,” said Association of Liquor Licensees Melbourne acting secretary, Brian Frewin. “The conditions for the exemption are that we increase security particularly outside of our venues and we’re not allowed to advertise that we are open till late.”
The mediation saw more than 70 industry members argue the individual nature of Melbourne venues to around four members of the government, including the Director of Liquor Licensing, Sue McLellan.
The three-month lockout trial will commence tomorrow affecting about 450 inner-Melbourne venues in districts of Yarra, Stonnington, Port Phillip and Melbourne. If made permanent, it will apply to all venues in these areas, including the 47 that were made tempoarily exempt last weeks.
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