Clubs await hours ruling
Venue bosses hope for extended Games trading
A DECISION on whether licenced traders will be allowed to stay open for longer during the Commonwealth Games could be handed down as early as next week.
Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin is hopeful of a positive outcome after meeting with State Government representatives about Games trading hours and ID scanners earlier this week.
Mr Martin, who is also the general manager for The Bedroom, Sin City and Hennessy Lounge Bar and Nightclub, said he and a Broadbeach representative recently met with Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath and Games Minister Kate Jones.
“It was a positive meeting but they haven’t made a decision of what they want to do,” he said. “We weren’t sure we were going to be consulted, they seemed to be genuinely interested.”
He hoped the Labor State Government would “come to its senses” and enable trading past the existing 3am last drinks in party precincts. He also called for “pass-outs” for patrons already scanned into venues so they didn’t have to go through a time-consuming re-scanning process.
“We want to try and tackle the long lines (outside of clubs),” he said.
“With the influx of people it can only get longer.”
Currently visitors need to show ID each time they reenter a licensed venue.
While he said he would not be surprised if trading hours weren’t extended, he was hopeful of a good outcome.
“It’s more about the embarrassment for the Gold Coast if they don’t do it rather than the ability for us to do it later,” he said. “It will be a lost opportunity, come us being on the world stage to prove we are the world destination we say we are. We are hoping it will be like a Friday and Saturday night every night of the week.”
Mr Martin said he had requested in the meeting to be allowed to trade until 5am during the Games as well as being able to trade late a week either side of the Games.
LNP Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek – the Games Shadow Minister – has been pushing for extended Games licensing during the fortnight, saying it would be a “practical, outcome.
Ms Jones and Ms D’Ath met Mayor Tom Tate and Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter just before Christmas to discuss the issue.
The group is understood to be considering waiving exorbitant fees for restaurants – fees spike for any eatery which wants to sell drinks after midnight.
Ms Jones told the Bulletin: “Everyone understands it’s important we work together to maximise the benefit to local businesses during the Games.” reasonable”