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Canberra bar managers have detailed their opposition to any extension of Sydney's lockout laws to the territory, despite support from alcohol harm groups. Thousands of protesters took to Sydney streets at the weekend to protest lockout laws, claiming they had a devastating impact on the night economy. The laws, introduced to stem alcohol-induced violence, were replicated in Queensland and were the subject of an ACT government discussion paper last year. Sean Royle, a partner at CoCu group which runs Public in Manuka, and Shortys and Academy in Civic, said lockout laws would have "hugely damaging" effects on Canberra's already saturated hospitality industry. "Shutting it down is probably not the solution," he said. "The only justifiable reason that we seem to be getting for the lockouts is to curb violence, and I think that needs to be brought back onto the individual." Members of the group had met with the government to discuss lockout laws, but Mr Royle said he would be surprised if such laws were introduced. But Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn said a 1am closed door and last drinks policy was necessary in Canberra. "We are not going to stop all incidents of violence, but Canberra is not immune to alcohol-related harms," he said. "We can see that in some of the one-punch assaults on our streets." The ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance, which represents 47 organisations including the ACT Australian Medical Association, also supported lockouts, dismissing fears it would have a disastrous impact on the economy. ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey has previously opposed lockout laws, advising the government to focus instead on early closing times. King O'Malley's managing director Peter Barclay believed it was unlikely the government would introduce lockout laws, and apart from a couple of recent high-profile incidents, Canberra's night time revellers were well-behaved. "There are other solutions [than lockout laws]. The solutions are to have a good transport infrastructure and I think we're getting there," he said, pointing to the tram, Uber and the holiday Nightrider bus. He pointed also to the success of the recent Multicultural Festival, during which about a quarter of a million people visited Civic and alcohol was freely available. Commenting on the event in early February, police said the "mood of the crowd was friendly and only a handful of people were dealt with by police". Mr Barclay said Canberra's bar owners understood the privilege of holding a liquor licence. "Owners of licensed venues, including clubs, all have an interest in running a safe environment for their staff and their patrons. Canberra has very high standards." A spokesman for Knightsbridge Penthouse, one of Canberra's most popular late-night bars in Braddon, said a lockout would be an overreaction. "The proposed 1am lockout is a sure fire way to kill off the small bar and entertainment scene in Canberra," a spokesman said. "The perceived problem isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Surely there are other ways to curb the little violence there is." Kieron Clossey, who manages The Phoenix Pub on East Row in Civic, said a lockout policy would be ineffective and called for live music venues to be exempt. "We don't think live music venues should be subject to lockout laws, rather they should be exempt, if anything, as they are not the cause of the problem that the government if trying to address. "With the current downturn in trade the city has been experiencing since the Sydney Building fire, reducing the amount of punters would invariably lead to businesses closing," he said. Clossey's business partner, Sean Hannigan, said smaller bars hosting live music had a long history in Canberra with very few incidents compared to other venues. Pubs that have the highest rate of violence and trouble from excessive drinking should be treated differently instead, he said. "They should be held accountable for costing the police the extra time and resources spent on dealing with over-intoxication spilling out onto the street in the first place." Jane Easthope, Canberra CBD Ltd chief, said lockout laws were not part of her organisation's approach to the problem of alcohol-related violence. Violence "isn't something that is uniquely CBD and uniquely alcohol-fuelled, it's a cultural thing that we all have to deal with", she said. Mr Thorn said the government signalled earlier this month it would announce changes to liquor laws after a one-punch attack in Civic, but no announcement had been made. "I have commended the government for the exhaustive approach they have taken and they have looked at things beyond trading hours which has been terrific, but continuing to review and research all the issues has to come to a stop at some point," he said. "We are now at that point."

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