JD’s, which has been closed since a fire gutted the interior in September last year, was denied the extension to trade till 5am at a Ballarat City Council meeting last December.

The bar previously traded until 3am.

“It’s surprising that a two hour window of trade is being blamed for the catalyst of the closure of JD’s,” Cr Hudson said. 

“We have an obligation to make sure Ballarat is a safe location.

“I would hate to be the person who was knocking on anyone’s door because of a tragic incident that has happened by someone who was impaired to such a level that they weren’t fully cognisant of the actions they were taking at the time.”

At the time Cr Amy Johnson was the only councillor to vote for the extension of JD’s license. 

JD’s owners took to Facebook on Thursday night, blaming Cr Hudson in particular for the closure. 

That statement read: 

“After four months of solid negotiations with the council we're pulling the pin and will be moving along to new things … Without his amended resolution we're pretty sure this wouldn't have happened but what's done is done and after the fire, the fights all out of this dog.