ID scanners for Kings Cross

This is just a coincidence but it's a bit related to the previous post about the cops and having no ID. 

The state gov is amending the liquor act in regards to Kings Cross in an effort to curb the violence that's been going on there. This will involve banning people involved in serious incidents for 12 months, or people who've been banned for 48 hours 3 times. To do this will require all people arriving after 7pm to have to present ID at the door to be scanned. That includes all local residents. 

This to me is nothing less than an invasion of privacy and an attack on civil liberties. Surely there must be a better way to weed out violent drunks without turning the whole local area into a Big Brother set? And what happens to all that info?

Independent MP Alex Greenwich isn't quite so up in arms about it, but is still concerned about the privacy issues and has said so in a speech in parliament: 

I have concerns about patron privacy, particularly for my constituents who live in the area and will be subject to regular scans when they go out to dinner during the week and to lunch on weekends. While the bill will require privacy training of staff and security who operate identification scanners and require licensees to have a privacy management plan or policy, it is not clear whether there is opportunity for personal information to be misused. Most operators abide by the law, but some nightclubs are known to be linked to criminal activity that can involve security and staff. I agree with the Kings Cross Liquor Accord and local residents that identification scanners should not be required at times when there are few risks of violence and antisocial behaviour. I note that fine dining restaurants will be excluded. Identification scanners will operate every night after 7.00 p.m. and during the day on weekends—the times when locals use venues for dinner and lunch. 

Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Potts Point, Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst residents wanting to eat at venues in their neighbourhood during the week and during the day on weekends will have their data regularly scanned and stored. This is an invasion of their privacy and I hope that this will be one of the issues looked at during the review of this legislation, which will occur within the first 12 months. It will be a huge impost on venues because they will have to hire additional staff at times when there are few risks and they will have to turn away dining customers if they do not have identification. The Bourbon, for example, has three entrances, all of which will require staff to operate identification scanners at 7.00 p.m., which is their dinner time, and on weekends during their lunch time. High-risk venues such as nightclubs are not open outside of the times when problems arise and will not oppose this legislation, but other venues that are used by the local community will suffer. The bill should target high-risk peak times based on Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data when violence and antisocial behaviour occurs. Imposing scanners on the local community outside these times is going over the top. - See more