Orange music producer David O'Brien has become a last-minute addition to the state election race for Orange on a platform of seeking to end Sydney's lockout laws for clubs and pubs.
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Mr O'Brien, 25, is standing for the Keep Sydney Open party which is fielding candidates in several country seats including Orange and Bathurst as well as in Sydney.
He said while the main issue of repealing laws limiting how late venues can trade in key entertainment areas of Sydney was city-centric, it had flow-on effects for regional areas.
"I actually live here [Orange] but the issues we are trying to raise aren't necessarily about Sydney," he said.
Mr O'Brien said it was vital for NSW that Sydney continued to be a tourist hub with a lively nightlife.
He said without it, less tourists would go to Sydney and then travel to country areas including Orange.
Huge economic gains could be lost.
- David O'Brien, Keep Sydney Open candidate
And he said the party was concerned the government's lock-out laws and higher costs placed on festival promoters throughout NSW could endanger regional music festivals.
"While Orange may not have something of the size of Tamworth [Country Music Festival] or the Central Coast [music festivals] the potential for us to have something like that could be lost," he said.
"Huge economic gains could be lost. We are worried it could spread."
Mr O'Brien said the live music industry was suffering at the hands of the state government and the laws needed to be changed.
He said he was also concerned about the government's handing of the drought and called for more action to help communities.
The party website lists other policies Keep Sydney Open is fighting for, including creating a 24-hour city plan which provided for entertainment, shopping, public transport, taxis and ride sharing plus public safety across all hours.
It is calling for the takeaway liquor curfew to be extended to midnight, reduce the number of alcohol-free zones and increase government arts and culture spending.
They also want to extend business trading hours, stop the use of police sniffer dogs and legalise pill testing.
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