Punters heading out for a night on the town in Queensland this weekend will notice something a bit different about their experience come Saturday: namely, the presence of mandatory ID scanners at the entry of all venues inside the state's designated Safe Night Precincts.
Officially being implemented from this Saturday, 1 July, the new attempt at safeguarding against alcohol-fuelled violence has been trialled recently by the state government at about 50 select venues across Qld.
Key Points
- From this Saturday, patrons must have their ID scanned at premises in Safe Night Precincts
- Scanning will be conducted upon both venue entry and re-entry from 10pm onwards
- The law applies to all patrons regardless of age or whether they are a Qld resident
- ID data will be held for 30 days
- Safe Night Precincts subject to the law include Fortitude Valley and the Brisbane CBD and inner-west, as well as Airlie Beach, Sunshine Coast, and Broadbeach, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton, Surfers Paradise, Toowoomba and Townsville CBDs
Networked ID scanners — which relay information between premises about individuals who have been flagged for venue bans — were suggested as an alternative measure to be taken against aggressive patrons following the government's U-turn on bringing in 1am lockouts across the state back in January.
According to a statement released this week by the Palaszczuk government to trumpet the success of the scanning pilot program, staff at the venues involved were notified of banning orders against patrons 22 times across last weekend when they tried to enter the premises.
"That is 22 times someone with a violent history could have entered a licensed venue but was stopped," Attorney-General and Justice Minister Yvette D'Ath said.
That's all well and good, but what does this mean for the average person on a night out? Well, most simply, regardless of your age, you must have your ID on you to be allowed entry to premises subject to mandatory ID scanning. The rule applies to Qld residents and visitors alike.
Additionally, scanning practices will take effect from 10pm, seven nights a week, and apply to both entry and re-entry to venues after that time — so if you step outside for any reason, you will have to be re-scanned to get back in.
The initiative is obviously not without its critics, including several venue operators around Fortitude Valley and in other areas of the state. Among the most outspoken opponents is the Coalition Against Prohibition, who have organised a campaign to petition the government to repeal its plans to enforce mandatory ID scanning.
The coalition, which has so far gained 600 signatures in favour of its cause, argues that the law represents "perhaps the single biggest invasion of privacy laws" the state has ever seen, and accuses the government of hypocrisy in implementing a policy championed by ex-Premier Campbell Newman.
The coalition further says the hospitality and tourism industries would likely be in favour of "the measured, voluntary use" of ID scanners — and, in fact, the government has openly acknowledged that many venues in the state have been using the devices of their own accord for several years — but does not condone the blanket enforcement that is being initiated this weekend.
"A law that may work on a voluntary scale, in high risk premises in Fortitude Valley, will not work in regional Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Gladstone (or elsewhere) and should be subject to a voluntary trial before any forced implementation commences State-wide," the petition explains.
Further concerns arise from the fact that identification data will be kept on file for 30 days following the scan, giving rise to privacy worries, as well as the added costs of security and potential impact on business revenue.
And, of course, there's the most obvious loophole in the system: to avoid being scanned (and thus being flagged as a banned patron, for those with orders against them), one would simply just need to show up and get inside before 10pm.
Nonetheless, D'Ath remains steadfast in reiterating the government's position that the change is a positive one.
"The legislation we have implemented will give venues the ability to identify banned patrons who have a history of violence and will operate as a deterrent to troublemakers and provide a safer environment for everyone," she said.
Despite the looming deadline, not everyone is coming aboard willingly, despite the government having provided venues with a one-off payment of $4000 to help with the financial impact of introducing the scanners.
According to The Brisbane Times, there are still six holdout venues across the state who have not yet signed up for them. However, D'Ath told the outlet she hoped they would come around by Saturday.
"As with all changes, there may be teething issues but we will work with venues to ensure these are worked through," she said in a statement.
"We commend venues that are as committed as we are to ensuring their patrons have a safe, fun night out."
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