Sydney's Lockout Laws Will Be Debated In Parliament Today (And You Can Be There)

Thanks to a wave of passionate Sydneysiders, Keep Sydney Open's offline petition received well-over 10,000 signatures and is being debated in the NSW lower house today. The debate is open to the public which means you can show your support of the cause directly to Parliament — an event worthy of an afternoon sickie.

From massive rallies to a crowdfunded documentary, a large portion of Sydney's community has really defended the nightlife of the city we know and love. Clearly, the uproar hasn't been heard on deaf ears, with a review under way by the Independent Review board and now a full-on political debate.

For those truly dedicated to the cause, this is a rare chance to not only show your support but also find out if politicians have really been listening. You'll have to take it down a notch though, as campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in Parliament. Immediately following the debate, Keep Sydney Open is organising a meeting in Martin Place for a group photo-op and discussion around the campaign's progress.

The schedule:

• 4:00pm: Arrive at Parliament and go through security at public entrance.*
• 4:15pm: People to be seated in chamber.
• 4:30pm: Debate starts.
• 5:00pm: Gather for a post-debate photo at the top of Martin Place

*Note that campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in the Parliament.

Looks like the government will finally be forced to openly consider the closures of music venues and the major hit on Sydney's night-time economy and vibrant nightlife. Keep Sydney Open believes there are many alternative means to keep the city safe at night without shutting it down — and they clearly have a lot of local support behind them.

RSVP here to attend today's debate. The debate will happen today, May 12 from 4pm to 6pm at NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney.

Image: Kimberley Low.