Keep Sydney Open rallied in Sydney's CBD today as the debate to repeal the city's lockout laws took place in NSW Parliament House.
Hosted directly outside the venue, the rally saw a big turn-out and included speeches from the likes of Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott, Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong and DJ Tori Levett.
Leong gave a passionate speech to those in attendance, reminding them that an election is coming up in March.
"They will tell you whatever you want to hear in the hope that you will be fooled into voting for them. Don't be fooled, because our city is worth more than that. Our right to party is worth more than that," Leong said.
"Our ability to go out when we want to and not be treated like we are small children by fossils and dinosaurs in there," she added, pointing to NSW Parliament House.
"We can keep this city safe and we can keep it open. Those things are not contradictory. We understand the complexities around this. We understand what is needed to do this. It's just that they don't because they haven't been out past 9pm for a very long time."
Meanwhile, Levett said Sydney musicians and the city as a whole is at risk of "being taken off the world stage" if the lockout laws are not repealed.
"Sydney is famous all over the world as the hometown for some of the biggest dance music acts. But there won't be another Flume, there won't be another RUFUS, if there aren't venues to perform, meet agents, meet labels, meet other DJs and have a community," Levett said.
"The opportunities that those acts had aren't here for the next generation of DJs and musicians.
"Today the government needs to hear our voice. The government needs to act and put Sydney acts back on stage or they risk taking Sydney off the world stage."
Check out footage from today's rally here.
It comes after Deputy Premier John Barilaro called for the legislation to be scrapped in the CBD by year's end earlier this month.
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