A nightclub lockout trial is needed in Perth according to the state's top doctor, following a vicious brawl that broke out in Northbridge on Sunday morning.
Chairs, tables and even pavers were thrown during a fight that broke out among early morning revellers, apparently sparked after someone asked for a light.
Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Gannon said evidence from NSW's 1.30am lockout law (with last drinks at 3am) showed a 33 per cent reduction in people presenting drunk to emergency departments on a Friday and Saturday night.
"We have to get past the idea that you can pile on the booze in some bloodhouse until 5am-6am," he told Radio 6PR's Gary Adshead.
"The longer venues are open, the more trouble you see.
"We're seeing people getting their heads caved in with injuries that have the potential to impair them for the rest of their lives. We've seen people killed in Kings Cross which provided the impetus for the NSW government to act.
"It's at least time to have a conversation about lockout laws and to look at what's happened in NSW," he said.
Vice president of the WA Nightclubs' Association, Tim Brown, said the effectiveness of staggered closing times had proved that lockout laws weren't needed in Perth.
"We have a different approach to other states and it has been working well," he said.
"Anti-social trends are down significantly and it's important to highlight the Northbridge brawl didn't occur inside licensed premises."
Dr Gannon said legislators should look at evidence of what has and hasn't worked in different parts of Australia and think about how they might work here.
"There is a lot of debate in Sydney about the winners and losers in lockout laws," he said.
"What is uncontroversial is that there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of people presenting to emergency departments in the Kings Cross area along with reduced injuries and fatalities due to alcohol-related incidents."
Dr Gannon distanced the debate from "wowserism" or measures to stop people enjoying themselves.
"This is not about stopping people having a good time. These laws are far from draconian - there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself," he said.
"This is about looking at measures to protect people."
The state's top medico said anger-fuelled incidents were a reflection of "a new toxic cocktail" that mixed alcohol with drugs like methamphetamine.
State opposition leader Mark McGowan repeated his claim that CCTV vision from the Northbridge brawl had reminded him of scenes from troubled areas of Los Angeles or Detroit.
"That brawl was a disgrace," he said.
"What they did [the people involved] was wrong and I hope the book is thrown at them."
But Mr McGowan didn't support lockout laws unless the community demanded a trial.
"Lockout laws put people on the street. The best solution is a strong police presence," he said.
Police minister Liza Harvey laughed off Mr McGowan's comparison with Detroit and claimed police had resolved the brawl within four minutes.
"Assaults in Northbridge have reduced by 36 per cent," she said.
"We have the solution for Northbridge and it's working."
A liquor accord sees pub and nightclub owners meet with police on a regular basis to address anti-social behaviour concerns.
A lockout law has been in place in Kalgoorlie since 2010
