Night Time Economy Minister John Graham said the relationship between police and the city’s entertainment providers needs to improve,but he stopped short of backing major reforms following the report.
Police speak to a person near The Riley on Oxford Street.Flavio Brancaleone
The research,commissioned by the government’s 24-Hour Economy Commissioner and undertaken by global consultant VibeLab,found Sydney excelled when it came to venues and creative content,but was let down by excessive regulation and policing,poor transport and a lack of investment.
The researchers found one of the concerns most frequently raised during consultations was “behaviour from the NSW Police Force that can be perceived as excessive,antagonistic and uneven in its enforcement”,and the latitude given to officers to shut down events or prevent them from going ahead based on perceived risks.
“Multiple venue operators,event promoters,and artists reported that disproportionate police presence at events can create feelings of tension where none had been before …[and] can make attendees feel less safe,” the report said,especially for Indigenous people and people of colour.
VibeLab compared Sydney to five other cities it recently evaluated,and gave the Harbour City a rating of 6.94 out of 10;slightly ahead of Tokyo,Montreal and Stockholm,but behind New York (7.29) and Berlin (8.02).
However,Sydney’s performance varied markedly between criteria. Venues – including size and reputation – rated highly,but it was marked down for public transport at night (5.95),funding for music and nightlife (4.41),public cultural activities (4.83) and policies and regulations (4.38).
Graham said the report showed Sydney had remarkable venues and incredible content but was “being held back by red tape and regulation”,which he has promised to reduce. “There’s just no question reading this report:the potential’s higher and regulation is one of the key barriers.”
Graham has already announced a trial for nightlife precincts to run a collective security program,replacing heavy-handed bouncers on the doors of venues,but the government has been reluctant to discuss changes to policing,such as venue patrols or the use of sniffer dogs.
Asked whether the relationship between police and nighttime economy providers needed to improve,Graham said:“The report makes that clear.”
Graham said recommendations such as instituting a music industry liaison group within NSW Police were “worthy of closer examination”,though he did not know enough about police force structure to say how that would change the status quo.
The VibeLab research is the second paper in a fortnight to identify police behaviour as a factor constraining the city’s nightlife,following a Committee for Sydney report.
In a statement,NSW Police said it would review all the comments and recommendations in the report. It supported a “balanced approach to policing and safety of nightlife venues,with a focus on equity and inclusivity”.
The force was working with the government,councils,liquor accords and businesses on several reforms to support a vibrant night economy in Sydney,it said. “Policing responses are based upon risk and a range of other matters,with all measures taken to provide a safe environment for patrons and performers.”
The VibeLab study focused on venues in two local government areas;the City of Sydney and Inner West. It identified three precincts suitable for greater investment in nightlife:Pyrmont-Ultimo,Dulwich Hill-Lewisham and North Alexandria,where warehouses could be turned into nightclubs near the growing Green Square residential area.
Participants said there was a shortage of accessible,safe and inclusive venues that prioritised a welcoming environment for First Nations,people of colour and LGBTQ people. There were substantial barriers to entry for people from those communities who wanted to open such venues,the report said,particularly cost.
Graham accepted a lack of public transport after midnight was a problem and said the government’s precinct approach to rebooting Sydney’s nightlife would make it easier to improve transport where it was needed,rather than everywhere.
He maintained “an active discussion with the transport minister” about more funding for late-night services,and transport was “clearly a key driver of nighttime activity”.
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