A ReachTel poll commissioned by The Sun-Herald found 38.8 per cent of voters want the lockout laws eased and trading hours extended, compared with 48.1 per cent who do not, with the rest undecided. Two years ago, 70 per cent of voters supported the lockouts. Many Newtown locals have argued the lockouts - introduced in early February 2014 to curb alcohol-related violence - are responsible for pushing drunken partygoers into Newtown, where the laws do not apply. Loading The party bus ban was agreed through the Newtown Liquor Accord. Co-ordinator Richard Adamson said the policy would be strict. "It's not just bucks' and hens' parties, it's all [passengers] on party buses," he said. "Usually they are pre-loaded, they have obviously been drinking at home and on the bus on the way in. We want an environment where locals and visitors can all enjoy a venue."

In one recent incident, a party bus arrived in front of a King Street venue and several patrons were refused entry, causing a fight to break out within the group, Mr Adamson said. "[The ban] was brought up by several venue managers in the liquor accord meeting ... and no one objected," he said. "So if you're coming on a party bus, you're probably going to be turned away." The owner-operator of Sydney company The Benda Bus, who has asked not to be named, said she would respect, and comply with, the new rule, but argued it made no difference if a patron arrived on a party bus or not. "I don't think it will change anything. I think the issue is the lockout laws in general ... pushing people into Newtown," she said. "[The bus] is the same as a bar and club. If someone is over 18 they can consume alcohol, but there are measures in place. In order for me to get insurance, I have to put these measures in place." The Benda Bus clients are able to bring their own alcohol on board, with a limit of two drinks per person. Glass bottles are not allowed, while all hosts on buses are licensed to serve alcohol in NSW, the company website says. Mr Adamson said Newtown venues were using WhatsApp to target troublemakers travelling in groups regardless of whether they arrived on a party bus. Since December, operators have used the app to maintain 24-hour communication, including with police. When a particular group was refused entry at one venue, all other venues in the thread were notified.

"It works really well. It is very good for identifying groups with particular issues," Mr Adamson said. Deputy Premier John Barilaro is reportedly leading a push to wind back the lockouts, particularly in the CBD. Nine News reported at least eight cabinet ministers supported easing the restrictions. A senior Liberal figure estimated two in three cabinet ministers supported rolling back the lockouts, saying it was "fantasy land" to expect Premier Gladys Berejiklian to open up that "hornets' nest" before an election. Loading Official crime statistics show alcohol-related assaults were already decreasing in Kings Cross and the CBD when the lockout laws were introduced in February 2014. They have continued to decline, but there has been a displacement of violence to surrounding areas. In the first 32 months after the ban, there was a 12 per cent increase in assaults in areas adjacent to the lockout precincts, including The Star and venues around Ultimo and Surry Hills, and a 17 per cent increase in easy-to-reach suburbs including Double Bay, Newtown and Bondi, says the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

While Newtown venues have taken matters into their own hands, Sydney Party Bus owner-operator Dean Choma - who has run party buses for 30 years - said a lack of general regulation meant the industry was a "free for all". "It's going largely unregulated and right now, the people that have the control of the bus are the passengers," he said. Buses are booked on a charter basis and "100 per cent of the time the person who booked the bus is drinking with the crowd", Mr Choma said. He called for party buses to be run as tours, where all passenger are identified on a manifest and on door lists at venues. The tours would be managed and conducted by a guide on board in addition to the driver. "I don't blame venues for rejecting all buses," Mr Choma said. "They should have done that a long time ago." Newtown Greens MP Jenny Leong said the party bus ban was a "good local solution".