A Night Out in Wollongong

CCTV footage shows that alcohol-fuelled violence is out of control

More than 15 months after an application for restrictions on the sale of late-night alcohol in Wollongong was lodged with Communities NSW, alcohol-fuelled violence continues to plague the city.

That’s why Police Association of NSW (PANSW) has released footage from CCTV cameras around the Wollongong CBD that graphically demonstrates the extent of the city’s problems with booze violence.

Time and time again we’ve been told by the politicians from both sides that alcohol-fuelled violence isn’t a problem in NSW.

Emergency services workers, however, see the carnage on our streets every single weekend. They have been criticised for speaking up, and accused of being wowsers for simply asking our politicians to take this issue seriously.

This is the footage the politicians didn’t want you to see. 

This is what happens at night on our streets, and this is why the community overwhelmingly wants their politicians to take action.

The footage graphically demonstrates why in November 2009 local police made a 79 Application to Communities NSW seeking tough restrictions on pubs and clubs in Wollongong – similar to the restrictions that have been highly successful in Newcastle.

It is just ridiculous that Communities NSW has been sitting on its hands for almost two years and still hasn’t made a decision. In the meantime, countless people have been assaulted and injured on Wollongong streets.

It is clear the State Government’s liquor legislation is not working.

Both parties must commit to an urgent overhaul of the Act, removal of bureaucrats from the process and the reintroduction of the Liquor Court to prevent this fiasco from happening again.

And both parties must commit to a state-wide three-month trial of the Newcastle measures – including 3am closing times, 1am lock-outs and restrictions of high-alcohol content drinks.

Alcohol-fuelled violence is a serious cultural problem in NSW, and it demands a strong and proactive response from government.