Sydney’s lockout drinking laws might be going back to the drawing board after nightclub figure John Ibrahim joined a city council panel aimed at improving Sydney’s night scene.
In a tweet Ibrahim wrote: ‘An expert panel is being formed by the city of Sydney to help advise on how best to resuscitate our city’s deceased nightlife.
‘F**k it I’m in !!!’ he added.
John Ibrahim (pictured) has joined a panel aimed at reinvigorating Sydney’s night life
He’s long been a critic of the NSW Government’s controversial lockout drinking laws
Sydney’s strict lockout laws were brought in after Thomas Kelly, 18, in 2012, and Daniel Christie, 18, in 2013, were punched and killed in Kings Cross.
The laws were slightly relaxed in December 2016, with last drinks pushed from 3am to 3:30am and lockout moved from 1:30am to 2am in some places, but have been controversial since their introduction in 2014.
Ibrahim has not kept his opinions of the ‘ridiculous, pointless’ laws under wraps.
Ibrahim (far left) has not kept his opinions of the ‘ridiculous, pointless’ laws to himself
Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O on KIIS FM last year, he told young people to give up the dream of owning a nightclub.
‘It’s a bit late now to enter the clubbing scene, to be honest with you, just put your head down and go to work.
‘I don’t think you can make money from that industry, there’s so many hurdles you have to cross, so many laws, just ridiculous, pointless.
‘I was around in the hey day, there weren’t so many restrictions. You couldn’t survive now.
John Ibrahim pictured with model girlfriend and owner of ritzy Potts Point bar Sarah Budge, 27
Last King of the Cross author with Snoop Dog after the rapper The Rapper performed a show
‘The stuff we got away with — back in the DCM (club) days. You open at 11 at night and keep pumping until 11 the next day. You can never do that again,’ he added.
In Ibrahim’s autobiography ‘Last King of the Cross’ he wrote: ‘There are clearly people who are violent and who can’t handle their alcohol.
‘But the laws punish the majority, who don’t drink too much or commit violence, and the venues, who do everything in their power to protect their patrons. Not to mention the small businesses that thrive off the night-time economy.’
The panel will hold four meetings a year and councillor Angela Vithoulkas told the publication Ibrahim’s knowledge would be a welcome mix to the discussions.
‘We can’t deny John Ibrahim has experience in that field. If he was to be successful, he would bring a bit of spice to the panel, a bit of notoriety.
‘I think it is interesting but I am not sure what he is going to get out of it,’ she added.
Sydney Councillor says John Ibrahim has undeniable experience in the Sydney night scene (stock image)