Dave Evans with Senator David Leyonhjelm outside the now-closed Hugos.
Hugos’ Dave Evans is looking at joining a class action against the NSW state government following the announcement yesterday by administrators that Hugos would close in Kings Cross. Evans said that 15 years of hard work have been wasted, and all thanks to the policies of the NSW state government.
“That’s it. That’s 15 years of hard work gone down the drain. It’s just so sad and heartbreaking,” he said.
Hugos had its last night of trade on Sunday night. The nightclub has been awarded Nightclub of the Year at the Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards on numerous occasions, and it has long been a staple of Sydney nightlife.
One of Evans chief concerns is that despite Hugos not having any strikes against its name, it was unfairly affected by the lockout laws introduced by the then O’Farrell government. The lockouts have seen a dramatic decrease in foot traffic to Kings Cross, an effect that has seen the continued operation of Hugos in the Cross to be no longer viable.
Some 70 staff have now been made redundant, on top of the 100 or so staff that Hugos has shed since the lockout laws came into place and trade reduced.
Evans now says that the government can expect legal action.
“Hugos in Kings Cross set the standard on how to have a great time safely – but we had no chance once former Premier O’Farrell introduced his one-size-fits-all laws,” said Evans.
“From a business, entertainment and safety perspective, we did every single thing right, yet blanket laws were imposed on us that drove our customers away to other suburbs without restrictions.
“We didn’t do anything wrong. But the NSW Government not only wouldn’t hear us out, they wouldn’t even take our calls.
“So instead, now they can take the calls from our lawyers.”