One hit ‘coward punches’ aren’t the only problem plaguing Sydney and its nightlife. The ‘professional politician’ is the other.

A ‘professional politician’ is a person who has dedicated majority of their adult life to their party with no real life experience in a ‘normal’ day-to-day job. Our current NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell may have an Australian history degree under his belt, in the same year he finished that (1980), he immediately joined the Liberal Party, dedicating his whole adult life up until now to politics.

Take this; London Mayor Boris Johnson was hit with a difficult decision earlier this year. Tackling an increasing housing crisis across London’s city – containing 60 million people – and a huge opportunity for development next to British clubbing institution Ministry of Sound, the question of whether MoS could stay open was put in his hands.

Prior to Johnson taking up politics in 2005, he spent 18 years as a journalist, getting sacked from The Times, working as a local columnist at the Wolverhampton Express & Star and eventually becoming the Editor of The Spectator where he stayed until his party appointment.

With Johnson being pressed by both MoS and the company pitching for the proposed development over this significant dilemma that would affect thousands, he went to assess the situation for himself. Yep, he jumped in a car and literally headed on down to the club to see the importance of such an institution and why it should stay open. The result? The Mayor, the developers and MoS came to a ‘mature’ and reasonable agreement to live in harmony and protect the future of the club.

So here is the question – how can a politician expect to stay in touch with its people if they haven’t had a taste of what it’s like ‘on the ground’? Making ill-informed decisions is only the start. Let’s take into consideration the fact that both ‘coward hits’ occurred before 10pm. Or what about the new and unsightly ‘high-roller exclusive’ Bangaroo Casino being exempt from these Nana State reforms. These are some prime examples of how corrupt the political system is. Barry O’Farrell has indirectly said to us that it’s okay for dodgy, cashed-up gambling addicts to bring their dirty money into our economy, yet it’s not alright for the majority of law abiding NSW citizens to leave a club after 1:30am unless they’re going home.

Where Barry lost sight of reality:

• Lock-outs are not the solution. It pushes everyone onto the street, ups frustrations and at the same time increases the chances of violence with police being handed majority of the responsibility.
• Stopping drinks at 3am is a bad idea. People will potentially choose to take drugs instead; taxi change-over means a spill over onto the street and yet again, police are handed majority of the responsibility.

Here are some real life solutions from people who have been ‘on the ground’ in Sydney’s nightlife:

• We agree! More public transport on Friday and Saturday nights
• Have permanent signs outlining the penalties for breaking laws going into zones with clubs. This could be as strict as;

1. Fines for anti-social behaviour
2. Fines for assault
3. Fines for drug possession

• More water fountains to hydrate intoxicated users
• More friendly police – not discouraging fun but keeping an eye on the trouble-makers
• If you get banned from licensed venues, you must then go to an alcohol intoxication education course (that you have to pay for) to prove to the government you can drink in venues safely again
• Compulsory ID scans at all venues. One-strike policy that restricts users from entering any club for 3 months if they show any anti-social behaviour
• A federal inquiry into Barry O’Farrell and his relations to the alcohol lobby groups
• Tackling steroid trafficking. Stronger penalty on the drug that increases testosterone levels and encouraging anti social behaviour.

Sign this petition and stop an ill -informed government making another detached-from-society decision.