The Nationals member said, while he stands solidly behind lock-out laws and will say so in a government review, he has a different view about takeaway curfews and holds firm on how unfair they are in small country towns.

In December 2014, the Tamworth Liquor Accord introduced a package of measures to combat alcohol-

related crime, including 12.30am lockouts, bans on shots and high-alcohol-content drinks, and ID scanners on entry.

Mr Anderson stands by the measures taken at a local level and said they’ve been “working very effectively” to reduce alcohol-related violence.

He supports the independent review of the state government’s 2014 changes to the liquor laws, but not the cut-off at 10pm for bottleshop sales.

“The statewide 10pm restriction on takeaway sales was never agreed upon at a local level. It’s been imposed upon us by the state government,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Anderson will personally make a submission to the review panel, urging them to consider the negative impact the rule was having on businesses and communities in regional NSW.

One licence operator told him the 10pm takeaway cut-off “seems to be uneducated knee-jerk reaction to the problems of late-night enter- tainment precincts like Kings Cross”.

Mr Anderson said the statewide blanket rule was unfair to “small towns with one hotel” and people who finish work after 10pm, such as farmers, miners and hospitality workers.

“It’s almost a form of geographic discrimination,” he said

“In the city they’ll have a pub nearby that they can go to.”

The 10pm deadline also puts a restriction on the income of local businesses, which could flow on to the community.

“Ultimately they’re going to make decision based on their bottom dollar. That could mean they have to reduce what they do in the community, reduce their sponsorship of local teams, reduce their entertainment and reduced jobs,” Mr Anderson said.

The review panel will submit a final report to the government for consideration in August.