By Andy Young

This story first appeared in The Shout. 

The Queensland Government has said that if the first stage of its plans to reduced late-night violence proves effective, the second stage of changes, which include 1am lockouts, may not be introduced.

Speaking earlier in January, Queensland’s Acting Premier Jackie Trad said that the Government was expecting an interim report into the first six months of its alcohol restrictions and that it would then “make a decision in the interests of Queenslanders based on the Queensland experience.”

The second stage of the alcohol restrictions is due to be implemented on 1 February and other Queensland Ministers have backed the possibility of either delaying or completely ditching stage two.

Minister Grace Grace said: “We have now had a good six months of the reduced hours and we find that reducing the hours of alcohol consumption goes a long way to reducing the number of alcohol-fuelled violence incidences. I am well aware of what the licensees’ views are of the lockout laws but let’s wait for the report, let’s see what the report says and then the government will consider that when it is received.

“This is a package of solutions and the government is looking forward to the report to see how all of this is working.”

Our Nightlife Queensland Secretary Nick Braban told The Shout that he was “hopeful” the 1am lockouts would not go ahead.

Read more here. 

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