Any changes in licensing times, even a 3am shutdown will be dangerous for our community. Can you imagine everyone being let loose into the streets at the same time just as the night is being started. Here’s an article that was published in the Courier Mail today. Direct Link to article here

PREMIER Anna Bligh has directed a committee investigating alcohol-fuelled violence to explore whether all Queensland licensed venues can eventually be glass-free.

In a letter to the Law, Safety and Justice Committee dated October 6, Ms Bligh requested consideration be given to “the feasibility and workability of transitioning, over time, to the complete phasing out of regular glass in licensed venues”.

She said it would need to be in consultation with industry and the community.

Liquor Licensing Minister Peter Lawlor this month also wrote to the committee about the prospect of changing closing times from 5am to 3am.

“During the extensive industry and community consultation undertaken as part of that review, the Queensland Hotels Association, the peak industry body … indicated its members generally would be agreeable to a uniform 3am closing time,” he said. “I believe the association’s proposal merits fresh consideration by the committee.”

The State Government announced the parliamentary inquiry and a glass ban at “high risk” venues in July following the launch of The Courier-Mail’s Punch Drunk series on alcohol-fuelled violence.

However, it has had difficulty enforcing it after 13 of the 74 licensees issued with show-cause notices were given more time to fight the ruling by the Supreme Court.

The ban is now due to apply in February instead of December.

The Law, Safety and Justice Committee handed down its interim report yesterday, but the only recommendation was to have a separate inquiry into the impact of drugs on society. “The issue of the extent to which the use of illicit drugs contributes to the levels of public violence has been raised on a number of occasions,” chairwoman Barbara Stone said.

Ms Bligh said the Government would consider a separate inquiry into illegal drugs, but not before the current inquiry was completed.

“I know that there is growing public concern about alcohol-fuelled violence, and I accept the views from the committee that some of the violence we see on our streets … is fuelled by drugs,” she said.

Other proposals under consideration include networked ID scanners across key entertainment precincts, better education for youth and more funding for frontline workers.

The Queensland Police Union, which is leading the charge for earlier closing times, criticised the committee for not recommending any changes in the lead-up to Christmas, saying “Arctic icebergs move faster”.

The committee is due to make its final report in March.