Keep Sydney Open and Flight Facilities to Hold Anti-Lockouts Rally

UPDATE: 4PM, JANUARY 20, 2017
After posting on Facebook earlier today that the NSW Police Commissioner was attempting to prohibit this weekend's rally in the Supreme Court, Keep Sydney Open have announced that the rally scheduled for tomorrow night — Saturday, January 21 — has been cancelled. Speaking in a live video on the group's Facebook page, KSO director Tyson Koh said that the Supreme Court has ruled the rally illegal, and as such, they will not be proceeding with the event. Koh said that he wanted to maintain KSO's peaceful and cooperative reputation with the police, and urged individuals — however frustrated and upset — to do the same.

Sydney's nightlife lovers might have earned a 30-minute extension, following the Liquor Law Review, but it's certainly far from a repeal of the lockout laws. Consequently, Keep Sydney Open is teaming up with Sydney's ARIA-winning duo Flight Facilities for another rally, to be held in Kings Cross on the evening of Saturday, January 21 from 9pm.

As fans would know, Flight Facilities has been continually outspoken in their opposition to the lockouts. After all, the duo played some of its first gigs after 3am at now-closed Kings Cross venues, including Hugo's, Soho, Tank Room and the Piano Room.

"Having met in Kings Cross nearly nine years ago, the place holds a special place in our hearts," said Flight Facilities' Jimmy Lyell and Hugo Gruzman. "We, personally, realise the importance of nightlife as a breeding ground for ideas and talent. To stand by and watch the continual erosion of a vital stone in the path to our success would be a disservice to Sydney, its music lovers and other potential musicians."

Flight Facilities were included in a group of artists commemorated recently in a KSO project, which paid tribute to closed Sydney venues and the artists who cut their teeth there. Flight Facilities have long been associated with Kings Cross's now-closed Piano Room, where Jimmy and Hugo met.

Keep Sydney Open does not see the 30-minute extension as a solution. Instead, the organisation wants to work with the NSW Government to implement a seven-point plan, as follows:

• Developing best-practice policing strategies;
• Investing in 24/7 public transport;
• Implementing integrated urban planning reform;
• Encouraging diversification of after-dark activities;
• Establishing anti-violence education and intervention campaigns;
• Incentivising well-run venues; and
• Appointing a Night Mayor or office charged with managing Sydneyʼs night-time economy.

"A 30-minute extension will not be enough to reverse the damage being done to the cultural areas and small businesses that make Sydney an exciting place to be," said Tyson Koh, director of Keep Sydney Open. "Itʼs barely enough time to line up for the bathroom or get a kebab.

"For too long the debate about our city and how we live our lives has been dominated by misinformation and fear-mongering. We call on the lobby groups who support the lockout laws to enter the conversation about smart solutions, instead of clearing people off the streets."

The rally will be Keep Sydney Open's third. To keep up to date with developments, follow the event page over here.