Oxford St icon says closure on the cards due to “catastrophic” lockouts laws
Image: Taylor Square Newsagent
THE owner of one of the longest-running businesses in Sydney’s Oxford St precinct has told the Star Observer he is considering closing due to a 40 per cent drop in trade since the NSW Government’s controversial lockout laws were introduced.
The legislation has become a central issue in the LGBTI-centric electorate of Sydney in the run up to Saturday’s NSW State Election with the major candidates in disagreement about it and “lockouts saves lives” posters appearing on lampposts.
Introduced last February, the laws contain a raft of measures to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in central Sydney — as well as inner-city areas like Darlinghurst and Kings Cross — including lockouts from licensed premises after 1.30am and no alcohol service after 3am.
Taylor Square Newsagency owner Mark Pigott said the laws had been “catastrophic” for local traders, numbers of passers-by had plummeted and it was likely the store would close in September when the lease came up for renewal.
The business, which has been in the same family for three generations, is located just a few doors down from the popular Stonewall Hotel on Oxford St and, according toPigott, serves scores of LGBTI customers.
However Pigott said Darlinghurst was suffering to solve a violence problem primarily centred on Kings Cross.
“Instead of taking fly spray to deal with the issue they’ve taken a two-by-four to your knees,” he said.
“There’s been issues regarding Oxford St for many decades but in my livelihood of working 40 years on this street [the lockouts have] had the catastrophic effect.
“It’s no doubt been the final nail in the coffin.
“The whole street’s going to be a vacant lot.”
Pigott said many workers clocking off from a late shift, particularly from the nearby hospitals and restaurants, would come to Oxford St for a drink “with no intention of being a problem”.
“But who wants to go to a fun park when all the rollercoasters have to close and because of that Sideshow Alley – us – are also closing?” he said.
Pigott’s grandfather first opened a newspaper kiosk on Oxford St in 1932 which eventually became today’s shop, thought to be Sydney’s only 24 hour newsagent.
In January, the licensee of Darlinghurst’s Flinders Hotel, Jason Ryan, said he had closed down the pub and laid off 10 staff following a 60 per cent downturn in business due to the lockout laws.
Greens candidate for Sydney Chris Brentin said 42 businesses had shut in Kings Cross since the new laws began.
“We need to be encouraging responsible service of alcohol so we can actually pinpoint venues that aren’t acting responsibly and impose the restriction on them,” he said.
Sydney state independent MP Alex Greenwich said the 1.30am lockout should only be imposed on troublesome venues while all licensed premises state-wide should stop serving alcohol at 3am.
“Well-run venues should be able to work towards an exemption because we need to have diversity in our night life,” he said.
Greenwich claimed part of the problem laid with the former Labor Government because “they gave out 24/7 licences like it was caviar”.
The comments were rounded on by Labor candidate for Sydney Edwina Lloyd, a supporter of the lockouts, who said Greenwich was out of step with medical experts and local voters.
“Some business are not going to survive, some will be able to adapt I will work to bring some creative ideas to change business from relying on 3am booze to something else,” she said.
Liberal candidate for Sydney Patrice Pandeleos also backed the lockouts: “I wholeheartedly support the laws and the Baird Government is committed to not watering them down.”
In January the State Government said they would bring forward a review on the laws from 2016 to this June.
And they offer such great customer service too. So sad to see them go
Maybe they will quit with the attitude they have grown over the years, just desserts
It will be all because of the greedy landlords
All the landlords in Council want to see is tumbleweeds rolling down Oxford Street
Ps
And the council and the lord mayor have done nothing for the last five years just let it go to the pack
What a shame another famous icon going from OXFORD STREET
thats sad
Even if they stop the lockouts, I think it’s too late. The damage has been done. It’s sad to think the next generation of gay youth might not get to experience all the amazing, wild, and crazy coming-of-age experiences we had amongst the Oxford st nightlife. Sydney’s lost something truly special.
Cannot believe this newsagency is closing down. I used to love going in there late at night, and the place would be packed with people thumbing through the mags on the shelves. It was great to be able to buy overseas mags that you couldn’t find anywhere else. Such a shame indeed.
I have seen 1st hand what these laws do as both a patron and a worker working on the strip in adult retail. The fact this news agency has had to go 24/7, and then put
Up with drinks, junkies and patrols getting toxically drunk on Friday/Saturday nights between 11am-1pm leaving the street s putrid mess of filth vs. Virtually dead every other time outside normally trading, driving down business except during these ‘peak’ hours is revolting, shameful and a sign of both the lock out laws and the times.
Oxford st has been dying a slow death and struggling as it was, these lock out laws have just turned Oxford into a dying leaper suffering and dying a lingering death by degrees.
Vagrants and junkies have flooded back in to the steers et al redfern in talk later the late 1999/2000’s and booze related violence is more insolated but common in that you will have people toxically drunk lying on massive pools of their own vomit/filth and drunkards punching on and arguing in specific hotspots – mainly out side late night eateries or pun closures arguing to be let i LNP because they arrived ‘just before the lock out’ – to patrols of 6+ (sometimes up to 15) police men/women patrolling the street – dogs in toe optional (usually with) for no reason other than a show of force who do little to combat the real problems of toxic binge drinking an attitudes towards violence and drinking culture which are the true problem, not draconian laws which zone out entire city districts and conveniently stop less this 20metres from a major inner city casino/drinking establishment l/hotel or want to expand a no booze zone to surrounding suburbs like Newtown previously unaffected by the bullshit only to have the drunkards cause trouble in our suburbs because they are pushed out of the so-called (un)entertainment precient (where the fuck is all the live bands, etc again?) to seek booze elsewhere Beciaee no will dare venture anywhere they known they can’t have a decent night out vs. Draconian liquor laws et al USA prohibition (which didn’t work). there needs to be a balance and lock laws have been proven not to work multiple times before, before more businesses and communities suffer in the name of the so-called people’s voice/nanny state. Now is no different.
Looks like lockout laws in Brisbane.
What’s the angst? If you are in a venue you can get last drinks at 3am. And if the venue could open past 3am prior to the legislation they can still remain open past 3am (not serving alcohol)
Didnt think drunks were that interested in a paper
Absolute disgrace that there is even a lockout thingy…what was the Chamber of Commerce for that area doing? If the Hospitals couldn’t cope that is a Health Portfilo budget thing…not the Red light areas…which has been established for longer than the Hospital….if Police can’t do their job either why blame the general public and or business owners…..This is a disgrace…wake up Sydney…
It is about Property Developement !.
You reckon Ella Byrne…I personally believe there is Muslim money behind this Liberal Government…
You can’t blame this on the lock out. The whole street has been in decline for well over a decade now. The smart businesses got out early. The ones that are sticking their heels in should be applauded for their community spirit but ultimately it’s not a smart business decision. Tempting as it may be to point the finger at Baird, it’s not his fault here.
I don’t really drink and still think that this alcohol lockout thing is silly. People need to be more responsible. I went clubbing and out for years and never had the need to bash people and cause all sorts of problems. Its the alcohol dropping the individuals sense of boundaries etc and they show the true personality. So because people can’t be responsible this law came about and is punishing people that do the right thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s drugs or the drug alcohol, people loose inhibition. The thoughts always present in the persons mind. So they act out. I think most problems are Kings cross problem not gay venue problems. Also these people do come at times to gay streets but to cause problems. So why not discriminate? It’s politically
not allowed as people could sue for discrimination. I say NO as they are the group causing problems. Again why do others have to suffer. I loved years ago going out on Oxford Street. Again most problems were kings cross related and mostly so called heterosexual and gay bashing. I remember in the mid 90s all the gay murders near kings cross of gay men. It became fashionable to kill gay men and claim that the gay guy made a pass at them and couldn’t cope with such a disgusting thing. After several murders in a copycat style a judge ruled this excuse unacceptable and subhuman. The judge went on to say that this is premeditated murders. A law was then passed. The one sentence I loved that the judge asked the murders (5 got off charges before this judge took over) was,” How do you as a supposed heterosexual males think woman
feel with unwanted advances and so on? Should I allow the woman to murder heterosexual men for something as simple as a compliment or pass? I should think not. He then went on by saying that the last two murders are nothing but the dregs on society and the death sentence should apply to such inhuman pathetic behaviors. He then stated the previous 5 murderers should be put in jail but can’t as they already went through court and got off. Then aweek later a new bill was passed. It was very scary working in this street and living only 5 minutes away until the new law was passed. So I say cancel this lock out stuff and apply it to the problem area. Also put more police out as some locked out people will come and cause problems for gay people and fellow straight people in non problematic areas.
LOL. Oxford street has been dieing a slow death for the past 10 years, but its the lock outs that are the problem……
This sucks.
Wtf this is getting ridiculous
That is a shame
What the f&@$!!!!!!
I would rather party in country NSW. Lol
So assaults are down 40%, hospital admissions 50% and businesses are reporting average 50% drop in business. That’s a nil win really, it’s not fixing the rate of violence per head of population. Also seeing a rise in problems in residential areas too. Harder to police the thugs there…
Dianne Minards
Yeah no sorry don’t think I’d blame the lockout laws, I’ve been in there many times with the intention to buy a magazine and couldn’t hang around long enough to make my choice coz its as hot as a sauna. Perhaps instead of blaming lockout laws take a look at what is shit about your business.