Taxi Driver Online

Lord Mayor calls for lockout trial
Chris Griffith, City Hall reporter
28feb05
BRISBANE Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants a 3am lockout at pubs and clubs to be trialled for six months as a first step to curbing late-night violence in the city.



State Cabinet is today due to deliberate on what Premier Peter Beattie promised would be real change in how venues operated and dispensed alcohol to young revellers.

The initiatives discussed at Friday's summit on city violence included the banning of "two-for-one" promotions and other cheap drink deals, clubs refusing to serve intoxicated patrons, security officers at taxi ranks, late night public transport and alcohol management plans for entertainment areas.

Cr Newman said while some venues were concerned about the 3am lockout, the Government, the Brisbane City Council and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson supported it.









The lockout would allow venues to remain open until 5am, but patrons could not leave one bar and enter another after 3am.

Queensland Taxi Council chief executive officer Blair Davies said the industry supported a 3am lockout or any staggering of closing hours to reduce large numbers of patrons spilling on to the streets together.

Mr Davies said charging an extra flagfall on taxi ranks would serve only to encourage patrons not to use ranks.

On Friday, Mr Beattie suggested that taxis could add a small fee to their flagfall to fund marshals and security officers on ranks.

The Queensland Taxi Drivers Association, which represents some drivers, said a 3am lockout "would be the last straw for most taxi drivers" who were struggling to take home $7 or $8 an hour.

Association president Michael Powell said marshals and security guards on taxi ranks and extra police foot patrols could be funded using some of the tens of millions of dollars of GST collected by the Government from taxis and the hospitality industries.


Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland chief executive officer Bob Aldred said licensees must take responsibility not to serve drunks.

Queensland Hotels Association president Jim Stewart said pubs accepted the responsibility not to serve drunks. But he cited an example where a relatively sober person shouted a group which contained some intoxicated members.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin