He scan not believe it Club boss labels new ID rules ‘ludicrous’ and ‘un-Australian’

COMPULSORY nightclub ID scanning is pointless and “unAustralian” if it keeps a 10pm start and casinos stay exempt, a Glitter Strip veteran believes.

Casino bars at Star’s Broadbeach property are not required to scan patron IDs despite it now being compulsory a few blocks away for venues in Broadbeach’s Safe Night Precinct (SNP).

As of Saturday, bars open in SNPs like Surfers and Broadbeach after midnight must scan patron IDs from 10pm. The Government-approved scanners link to a statewide database, redflagging people with police or court-ordered bar bans and also venue bans.

Craig Duffy, the longtime owner of Hollywood Showgirls in Surfers Paradise, said attempting to block undesirables was a good idea but he was unconvinced it would work.

“I find the ID scanners operating only after 10pm ludicrous. Even undesirable banned patrons own a watch and will work out ‘Hey, I can get in if I’m out before 10pm’.”

A casino exemption from scanning was “government favouritism”, another example of the new liquor laws’ “unfair playing field” and defeated the purpose of scanning IDs in the first place, Mr Duffy said.

The casino is also not bound by new 3am last drinks rules.

“It should be the same rules for all, it’s un-Australian.”

The Saturday night launch of ID scanning caused delays at Glitter Strip venues which reported Canadian, US and Kiwi IDs not being compatible. Details of affected customers had to be entered manually, creating frustration among queuing patrons.

Acting Attorney-General Anthony Lynham said casinos had tighter security, extensive CCTV and are “highly-regulated and have gaming as their core business.”

He said compulsory scans from 10pm was an effort to balance “operational convenience and harm minimisation”.

“(But) licensees are within their rights to scan IDs or refuse entry to patrons for disruptive, violent or illegal behaviour at other times.”

Police and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath hailed the launch a success, calling ID incompatibility problems “teething issues”. Of 89,600 IDs scanned across Queensland on Saturday, seven showed up as redflagged patrons, with four in Surfers and two in Brisbane.

Surfers MP John-Paul Langbroek said the botched launch with foreign IDs not scanning was “typical Labor”.

“Labor doesn’t get the Gold Coast ... there is no consideration of the tourism perspective which is very frustrating for our operators,” he said.

Star Gold Coast said it had sophisticated surveillance, security 24-7 and on-site police and government inspectors.