ILGA rejects NSW Police proposal for surveillance at Marlborough Hotel

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) has rejected a proposal by NSW Police to mandate biometric facial recognition technology and strict dance floor capacity limits at the Marlborough Hotel in Newtown.

Police had sought these measures to address 93 alleged serious incidents at the venue between 2020 and 2025, including assaults, sexual touching, and drink spiking. Authorities argued that previous engagements with operators had failed to produce lasting improvements and noted the venue was linked to a significant portion of alcohol-related incidents in the King Street precinct.

The proposal faced opposition from venue operators, privacy advocates, and City of Sydney officials. Critics argued that AI-driven surveillance would be difficult to enforce and could create an atmosphere of institutional surveillance, potentially deterring members of the LGBTQ community from visiting the historic establishment.