Tens of thousands of well-behaved patrons will be forced to hand over their ID for scanning at Brisbane pubs to combat the behaviour of a dangerous few, an industry member argues.
RSA Liquor Professionals director Russell Steele said tens of thousands of patrons would be scanned using mandatory, linked ID scanners from mid-2017 to make sure "between three and 21 patrons don't sneak into pubs in the city, Valley and inner-west in any 10-day initial banning notice period".
![Plans to introduce mandatory ID scanners and scrap the 1am lockout have prompted mixed reactions from Queenslanders.](/web/20170224173533im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/9/p/4/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.guiv0m.png/1487755519777.jpg)
"In order to manage these bans, licensees are being forced to scan IDs and invade the privacy of 20,000+ patrons. It is policy overreach to say the least," Mr Steele said.
In January, the government announced plans for a 1am lockout would be scrapped and mandatory ID scanners would be introduced in Safe Night Precincts for all venues trading after midnight by mid-2017.
Venues in Safe Night Precincts, such as in the Fortitude Valley, Brisbane CBD and Surfers Paradise CBD, would need to use ID scanners from 10pm every night they intended to trade past midnight.
Mr Steele said many in the industry thought ID scanning was "dead in the water".
He said the ID scanning system could be deferred until at least July 1, 2018.
Others argued that ID scanners would simply spread the problem patrons to suburban areas, where venues were not required to have them installed.
From July 1, 2016, service of alcohol was to stop at 2am across Queensland, or 3am last drinks in Safe Night Precincts, with shots banned after midnight.
The 1am lockout was expected to be introduced on February 1, 2017, for venues trading until 3am.
Permits to allow extended trading will be reduced from 12 to six and venues will only be allowed to use them for "special occasions", once per month, such as a wedding, birthday, music festival or international sporting event involving an Australian team, under a bill introduced to Parliament on February 14.
Previously approved, but not used, permits will be cancelled and venues will need to reapply under the new guidelines.
Our Nightlife Queensland questioned how the government would define special events.
"Who is to say that an event such as a dance music festival does not stand up to this criterion whereas the rugby league grand final does?" their submission to a parliamentary committee considering the bill reads.
"It will limit investment in music touring in this state, having a deleterious effect on culture and the economy."
It also pointed out that many people like to celebrate the end of the year during December, but with venues only able to apply for one permit per month, it would "surely result in consumer backlash".
Blanket ID scanning is also not needed, Our Nightlife Queensland argues, and could instead be assessed according to venue size and incident history.
There are 53 venues in the Valley precinct which would require scanners, but a "logical review" would reduce that to 20-25 venues, ONQ argued.
"These venues due not attract a style of patron which fits the recidivist offender profile who attracts police bans," it reads.
Broadbeach Safe Night Precinct administrator Melynda Robinson supported the repeal of the 1am lockout but believed permits should be increased to 18.
"Entertainment venues... often have artists of national or international status performing at their venues. However, under the new legislation it does not seem that this would warrant a late trading permit," she said.
Ms Robinson said the reduction in trading hours was "crippling" the nightlife, entertainment and tourism industries and described the laws as "draconian", arguing regular 5am liquor trade should return to SNP areas.
Queensland Coalition for Action on Alcohol chair Professor Jake Najman said data from ID scanners could be provided to researchers to guide alcohol policy.
"It provides a valuable opportunity to investigate patron behaviours such as patterns in attendance of licensed venues, movements between venues over the course of an evening and trends in patronage by population cohorts," he said.
Mr Najman said the coalition did not support cancelling the 1am lockout.
He said the coalition supported scrapping one-off permits as they undermined moves to stop the service of alcohol after 2am or 3am, but believed they could be at least reduced to fewer than six.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Zappala said it was "premature" to repeal the lockouts before they were given a chance to prove their effectiveness.
"We would be pleased to receive advice from the government on whether they would consider reintroducing them at a later stage if it is determined that more action on alcohol-fuelled violence is needed," Dr Zappala said.
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn said he was disappointed the 1am lockout was being scrapped, saying the alcohol industry had been very vocal in its opposition.
"This action was premature and encourages venues to think that if they continue with their campaign opposing the measures, the measures will be eroded over time," he said.
Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Bernie Hogan said reducing the special permits from 12 to six would hurt the profitability of venues that rely on music acts.
"Halving this revenue stream will reduce jobs, and potentially remove Queensland from music promoters' itineraries," Mr Hogan said.
He said on State of Origin night, large lines would form outside Caxton Street venues.
ALH Group head of regulatory and corporate affairs David Curry said gaming rooms should be exempt from ID scanning because of privacy concerns.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the decision to remove the 1am lockout was made after extensive consultation.
"That is now through the committee stage," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I urge people once again to have their say.
"We believe that the lockout is now no longer needed because when you want to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence, the issue is about reducing the trading hours that alcohol is served and that is exactly what my government has done."
Submissions closed on February 17, with several groups lamenting the consultation period of only a couple of days to provide a response.
The committee is due to report by February 24.
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