The QLD government has again pushed back the release date of the independent evaluation of ID scanners.
The laws brought in July 2017 require venues that stay open past midnight in the prescribed safe night precincts to scan IDs after 10pm. Safe night precincts cover the CBD in major cities and towns across Queensland and also includes Fortitude Valley and the inner-west suburbs of Brisbane.
The evaluation was originally due for release in mid-2018 before it was pushed back until October.
In a ministerial statement to the house yesterday, stressing the government was "committed to a vibrant, safe nightlife in Queensland", Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D'Ath, said the final report would "now be delivered on 2 April 2019 to allow the consideration of further key data".
The evaluation is currently being undertaken by Deakin University in conjunction with the University of Queensland, James Cook University and Latrobe University. It will consider all measures that have been introduced by the government including the ID scanners, the 3am Last Drinks policy in safe night precincts and the rapid intoxication beverage ban after midnight.
The timeframe has reportedly been extended to ensure the "team is able to consider all critical administrative datasets, such as hospital admissions, court data, fatal and non-fatal crash data and comparative site data".
The Attorney-General claimed that since the scanners were introduced last year "more than 664 contraventions have been detected".
"That's 664 times dangerous patrons have been kept away from licensed venues in safe night precincts," she said.
D'Ath also claimed that of the 512 people currently serving a banning order in Queensland, only five attempted to enter a venue last week.
"Some may say that these numbers are insignificant. However this is about deterrence," she said.
"Only one life needs to be saved for ID scanners to be considered a success."
The statement comes after the ABC revealed earlier in the week that of the 12.8 million IDs scanned since the start of the program, only 488 patrons were found going into a venue from which they had been banned.
It also comes following reports that bars and clubs are cutting staff and losing money because of the compulsory ID scans with live music venues also suffering with the legislation.
One venue in the precinct, The Zoo had to change its licence earlier in the year preventing it from staying open past 12am. Speaking to The Music, owner Pixie Weyand said the venue had "seen zero difference in terms of having a 'positive' impact" with the scanners in place.
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