Sydney at night People, places, and policies of the neoliberal city Peta Wolifson A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities and Languages Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences University of New South Wales September 2018 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Wolifson First name: Peta Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD Faculty: Arts and Social Sciences School: Humanities and Languages Title: Discourses of Sydney’s nightlife: People, places, and policies of the neoliberal city at night Abstract This thesis examines nightlife in inner Sydney from 2012 to 2017, when it became a source of much consternation primarily due to a highly debated venue lockout implemented by the New South Wales (NSW) Government. An assemblage of articles mobilises correlative threads relating to the central thesis argument, that: neoliberal discourse has co-opted effective governance of nightlife. Through discourse analysis, interviews and mobile methods, data was generated on experiences, governance and activism relating to Sydney’s nightlife. Analyses of the City of Sydney Council’s 2013 ‘night-time economy’ strategy and the NSW Government’s 2014 lockout were critical threads of the thesis’ governance focus. This focus demonstrates the reliance on a neoliberal policy script, including its aspatial application across ‘global cities’, co-opting of consultation, and attempts to reshape urban identities and behaviours through economic shifts. Under the NSW Government’s agenda, nightlife is not socially and culturally valued, but rather economically dispensable. Applying a historical lens to contemporary debates around Sydney’s nightlife, I problematise the intent of a ‘civilised’ and deregulated nightlife and discuss how recent attempts at social and moral sanitation link the present-day situation to a legacy of class- based leisure. Fieldwork and analysis of activist discourses comprise further consolidating thesis threads. Using ‘go-alongs’ and walking interviews in the inner Sydney nightscape of Surry Hills, I connect encounters and embodied experiences at night to show the dynamism of personal relationships to place and the need for policy that includes diversity and considers embodied encounter. Scrutinising the performative discourses of activist groups ‘Keep Sydney Open’ and ‘Reclaim the Streets’, I demonstrated that the perception of activist success is increasingly shaped by their cohesion with neoliberal discourse. The final thesis article expanded public debate by nesting the thesis’ central contention – that neoliberal discourse has co-opted effective nightlife governance – in contemporary urban studies debates about the ‘right to the city’. Here, the thesis returns to its key purpose: to reframe public debate, primarily focused on the right to drink and alcohol-related violence, towards a more critical examination of the far-reaching social, cultural and economic consequences of urban nightlife governance. Keywords: Nightlife, night-time economy, discourse, neoliberalism, gentrification, global cities, encounter, mobile methods, activism, Sydney Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International. Signature Witness Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: ii I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this thesis was written, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present. iii Originality statement ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ iv COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... Acknowledgements Danielle Drozdzewski, thank you for the invaluable guidance of your supervision and for your friendship over this long journey. I’ve learnt so much from you and will be forever grateful that you stuck with me over the last six years, encouraging me and having my back. Chris Gibson, thank you for the instrumental direction you provided throughout this project and for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Thanks to Hazel Easthope and Gethin Davison for trusting in me to continue this journey when things were toughest, and for your always-useful advice and guidance. Many thanks also to Phillip Wadds, Adam Eldridge, Jordi Nofre, Chloé Wolifson and the anonymous reviewers and editors who provided constructive feedback on work presented in this thesis. Many others provided food for thought through conversations, questions and comments along the way. The research presented herein was undertaken with the support of an Australian Postgraduate Award. Thank you to those who walked with me around Surry Hills and welcomed me on their nights out. It was a pleasure spending time with each of you and, in the process, I learnt more than I could have imagined. Thanks also the government officials and activists for generously giving their time and providing insightful interviews. I’m lucky to have worked with and alongside a group of women who, in different ways, reflect so much of what I love about geography. Rebecca Cross, you are a generous and patient researcher, and your candour, curiosity and warmth has meant so much to me. Multi-talented Nerida Godfrey, you helped me to get through the toughest part of this journey and I can’t thank you enough for your friendship and openness. Caitlin Buckle, you continue to motivate me with your focus, professionalism and positivity. And, Charishma Ratnam, thank you for bringing your enthusiasm into the office every day, and for making thesis-writing not feel like a solo journey. The greatest challenge of the last six years was not this thesis but the illness I endured while producing it. Numerous health professionals and advocates helped me to manage this challenge (and still do) and their care, dedication and expertise allowed me to complete this thesis. Friends, thanks for being part of my (night)life, especially Mia, for sharing the dance floor, sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti. Chloé, thanks for more than I can possibly remember, for being the kinder sister, and for your unwavering support and help whenever it was needed. Mum and Dad, thank you for everything. v Table of contents Title page i Dissertation sheet ii Acknowledgement of Country iii Originality statement iv Acknowledgements v Table of contents vi List of articles and declarations ix List of figures, boxes, and tables x Abstract xii 1 Introduction 3 Research framework 5 Aims 7 Thesis outline