Lockout backflip good news
THE FIGHT AGAINST THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S LOCKOUT LAWS HAS TAKEN UP COUNTLESS HOURS FOR CAIRNS HOTELIER JOHN LYNCH,
ONE year is a long time in both politics and, as John Lynch (above) would attest, the vibrant world of Far North hospitality.
ONE year is a long time in both politics and, as John Lynch would attest, the vibrant world of Far North hospitality.
This week marks 12 months since the Palaszczuk government won the crossbench support needed to pass its heavily maligned lockout laws, sparking a table-thumping response from nightclub and hotel operators across the state.
But in recent days the laws were officially scrapped, making way for a compulsory ID scanning system for venues that trade after 10pm.
As The Jack Hotel general manager and Cairns City Liquor Safety Accord president, Mr Lynch was at the coalface as local operators and a host of community leaders fought tooth and nail against the legislation.
“It would have been really tough, really devastating,” he said.
“There is no clear research that proves that lockouts work effectively.
“They didn’t want to listen, it was their mandate. They didn’t care what the facts were.
“It was such a poor piece of legislation and I’m so glad it’s been dropped.”
A 1am lockout was central to the government’s plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
Now, the mandatory ID scanners will take effect statewide from July 1.
“I’m really looking forward to it – why not use the technology?” Mr Lynch said. “Finally we’ve had some sense.”
Last year Far North hotel and nightclub operators were then told to choose between trading until 2am with no lockout or until 3am with a 1am lockout.
Mr Lynch said this caused division among many local traders.
“The government threw a spanner in the works and made us choose between two bad outcomes,” he said.
“That was, by design, the government creating that break in unity, which we now have back.
“Now it’s a good time for everyone in the industry. People can concentrate on plans and strategies they might have been holding off on.”
The lockout law battle was a pivotal chapter in the 37-yearold’s already prolific hospitality career.
Born and raised in Cairns, Mr Lynch completed a Bachelor of Business at James Cook University in 2006.
After almost a year living and working abroad, he took on a role as general manager of food and beverage at Gilligan’s, where he spent 18 months.
In 2011, he was “more or less” headhunted to help revive another CBD venue.
Shenanigans was in dire straits and was bought by
Cairns businessman Ken Harris.
With Mr Lynch as general manager, The Jack Hotel and Backpackers was born.
“It was always going to be a live music venue. That was the key for us,” he said.
“There was a period there when a lot of venues dumped live music because it was an expense they weren’t willing to bear.
“We went hard on it again and gave the local live music industry a bit of a revival.
“We were creating a new venue, a new culture and a new option for people.”
Mr Lynch said the business was overhauled from “top to bottom”.
The 124-bed hostel is now enjoying about 90 per cent occupancy amid resurgence in Cairns tourism.
But when The Jack first opened, Far North hospitality was in a far bleaker place.
“Any businesses able to get through the last five to seven years have learned to be nimble and control costs,” Mr Lynch said.
“Ones that fell by the wayside perhaps weren’t able to action that as quickly as they need to. We were new and proactively pushing the venue, so we got through that period quite well.”
Live music and sporting events are now at the CBD venue’s core.
Recent high-profile acts include The Amity Affliction, The Beards and Thundamentals.
On Monday night, a host of NRL greats, including Justin Hodges and Gorden Tallis, will take the stage as part of a Fox League promotional event.
The venue has recently installed two new 4.6-metre LED screens.
“We wanted to make sure there wasn’t a bad seat in the house because we are getting busier and busier,” Mr Lynch said.
IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LIVE MUSIC VENUE. THAT WAS THE KEY FOR US. THERE WAS A PERIOD THERE WHEN A LOT OF VENUES DUMPED LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXPENSE THEY WEREN’T WILLING TO BARE JOHN LYNCH