Key industry figures at both the Electronic Music Conference and the Australian Hotels' Association NSW Awards have spoken out strongly against the lockout laws.
Although the two events were unlinked – the AHA Awards took place at the Star and the Electronic Music Conference at Ivy in the lockout-affected CBD – leading speakers at both were united in their condemnation of the licensing law reforms. Bruce Solomon, the hotelier behind the Solotel portfolio which includes Opera Bar, Goros and the Kings Cross Hotel, criticised the changes during his speech while being inducted into the AHA Hall of Fame at the awards, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Over at EMC, a high-power panel representing the Australian electronic music industry tackled the lockouts and their effect on the future of Australian nightlife. The line-up, including Tyson Koh (Keep Sydney Open), Simon Digby (Melbourne Licensee’s Forum Steering Committee), Daniel Michael (HQ Complex), Nick Braban (Our Nightlife Queensland), Dean Ormston (APRA/AMCOS) and John Wardle (Live Music Office), emphasised the importance and cultural significance of city nightlife and sought to unify the voices of the music industry on the issue.
“The electronic music scene now needs to organise itself, come to the table and work with the Live Music Office and other bodies – as well as to strengthen its response to the lockouts," Keep Sydney Open's Koh said.
"Finding a way forward incrementally is a long game," John Wardle added. "What is achievable in the short term is how the sector presents itself."
The participants explored the need for Sydney to present positive stories within the nightlife scene and create a unified response to policymakers.