Explainer: O'Farrell's new measures against alcohol violence

New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell yesterday introduced a slew of new measures to tackle alcohol-related violence. We take a look at the proposed changes in detail.

There are changes to alcohol restrictions over the Easter long weekend. Source: AAP

Stricter sentencing and new fines

• A minimum mandatory sentence of eight years will be given to those convicted of "one-punch" assaults when the assailant is intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol and a person dies as a direct or indirect result of the assault.
• An extra two years will be added to mandatory minimum sentences for violent assaults committed when the assailant is intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol.
• Police will be encouraged to conduct drug and alcohol testing when they suspect an offender has been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol when committing a violent assault.
• Courts will no longer consider voluntary intoxication as mitigating factor in sentencing.
• The maximum sentence for the illegal supply and possession of steroids will increase to 25 years from two years.
• Intoxicated and disorderly behaviour can be fined up to $1,100 – five times higher than it was before the introduction of the measures.

New Sydney CBD precinct

• A new CBD precinct will be established (see map for boundaries) with its own alcohol-related regulations.
• In the new precinct, certain licence conditions will be imposed on venues. Conditions can include prohibiting the use of glass, restrictions on outlaw motorcycle gangs and the use of CCTV.
• "Party boats" and "party buses" operating within the precinct will also be subject to restrictions.
• Pubs, bars and registered clubs in the precinct cannot admit patrons past 1:30am and alcohol cannot be served past 3:00am. This excludes small bars (less than 60 person capacity), restaurants and tourism accommodation. Venues that have a license to operate past 3am can do so but cannot serve alcohol past that time.
• A precinct-wide freeze on new liquor licences will be introduced but small bars, restaurants and tourist accommodation will be excluded.
• Buses from Kings Cross to the CBD will be free on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Police can ban trouble makers from the precinct or part of the precinct for up to 48 hours. The Police Commissioner can extend the ban for a longer period of time.  

Map of the proposed CBD precinct subject to new, stricter alcohol and drug regulations. Source: NSW Government

Licencing regulations and other measures

• All bottle shops in New South Wales must close at 10pm.
• A risk-based liquor licencing scheme will be implemented – imposing higher fees on establishments with later trading hours, poor compliance histories and those situated in high risk locations.
• Police can conduct undercover operations involving minors or young-looking adults in order to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
• A media campaign will be launched to address the culture of  binge drinking and alcohol related violence.

A comprehensive list of the changes can be found here. 

Do you think these new measures will reduce alcohol related violence in Sydney? Have your say in the comments section below.