Sydney Carries Out Peaceful Protest Against Lockout Laws

As we previously reported, a wave of opposition took the streets of Sydney today against its lockout laws—ordinances that block entry or re-entry into venues, bars and clubs in the city after 1.30 am, and enforce a 3am last call for the purchase of alcohol—that have been in effect since 2014. Thousands of people gathered to protest the laws outright by marching from the Syndey's Central Station to Hyde Park, cutting a clean kilometer through the heart of the city.

As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, organizers estimated that "15,000 people turned up to the peaceful event, although some media put the figure at half that. Many wore white 'Keep Sydney Open' t-shirts, while others carried disco ball pickets. Premier Mike Baird was a particular target after earlier this month saying that he was unlikely to change his mind on the laws. On one sign, he appeared as a little girl sucking a thumb and holding a teddy bear, above the line 'It's not our Baird time yet.'"

According to a Galaxy poll, two thirds of NSW voters actually support the lockout laws. Former High Court judge Ian Callinan will deliver a review of the laws in August.