Sydney’s controversial lockout laws will be temporarily relaxed for the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras next month.
The New South Wales Government announced this morning that it will provide lockout exemptions to venues in the Oxford Street area on the night of Saturday, 3rd May, which means party-goers can still be admitted to venues in the area after the usual 1:30am or 2am cutoffs. Last drinks will remain at 3am, however, or 3:30am with live entertainment extensions.
A map of the affected area can be seen below.
“Relaxing the requirements will give people more time to make their way to surrounding venues and events when the parade finishes,” says Minister for Racing, Paul Toole.
“[Mardi Gras] is an internationally-renowned event that attracts visitors from all over the world and injects around $40 million into the NSW economy each year.”
Liberal City Of Sydney councillor (and Tony Abbott’s sister) Christine Forster reportedly appealed to Premier Gladys Berejiklian to relax the lockout laws for Mardi Gras, as a gesture of goodwill towards the LGBTIQ community.
Mardi Gras 2018 will be headlined by the one and only Cher.
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