Policy & Civic Health · Indicator 6
Cross-agency coordination for nighttime culture
What this indicator asks
When Sydney’s government agencies work together on nightlife, is there a lasting way to do so, who leads it, and does it support or police nighttime culture?
59.0/ 100 · Sydney
During the drug checking trial at festivals, NSW Health and the police agreed that officers would not patrol or search with dogs near the testing area.
Police ask for conditions on a venue, and the liquor regulator decides. The 24-Hour Economy Commissioner and Sound NSW have no role in that process. While state reforms removed conditions that restricted live music, police asked for facial recognition, drink limits and a dancefloor cap at the Marlborough Hotel in Newtown.
An expert said the City and the NSW Government do not always agree:
“The nature of the relationship is at times a bit push-pull. I think it’s very important to maintain a level of tension. I think that if we agreed on everything… I would question whether or not we were serving our community properly.”
We looked at three elements: whether a lasting joint mechanism exists, who leads it, and whether it supports or polices night culture.