Venues in NSW to stay open later? | Music News

Major Licensing Overhaul Could Make Way for More Sydney Live Music Venues

Live music venues in Sydney may no longer have to close the bar between 4 am and 10 am as the NSW Government plans to reinvigorate the night time economy.

Both proposals are included in a survey in which the government is looking for feedback as an overhaul of liquor licensing rules. The state government wants to make Sydney a global 24-hour city, again; and entice new operators to replace the venues that didn’t make it through the pandemic lockdown or the crippling six-year lockouts at its own hands.

Hospitality and Racing CEO James Hebron said the government wants to make it easier for across-the-board licensed premises to start and grow by cutting red tape and reducing the number of liquor licenses required to run a hospitality business.

“The new model proposes to align planning and liquor licensing approval processes to reduce overlap and duplication,” Hebron said.

“It also proposes we adopt a ‘license builder’ approach, to enable licensees to expand and diversify their offerings, through extensions that can be added to a basic license.

“These proposed reforms will not only make it easier to do business, they will reduce licensing costs and ultimately boost business’ bottom line,” he added,

These cultural events could include late night theatre shows, art exhibitions or poetry readings held in music venues.

“This would allow new live and creative entertainment venues to establish and trade 24/7 for certain events that contribute to a vibrant 24-hour economy,” the organisation said.

In the survey, respondents are asked if they supported the creation of a new ‘live and creative entertainment’ primary business activity; the exemption of new music venues from the six-hour closure; and what ideas they might have to foster new performance spaces.

The review – the first of its kind since the current Liquor Act commenced in 2007—covers pubs, clubs, restaurants, retail and takeaway stores.

It could see extended trading hours of 10 a.m. until midnight seven days a week, and changes that make it easier, cheaper and faster to start and operate a licensed business.

It would generate $250 million over 10 years as a result.

A new risk-based liquor license model would have more options including “more opportunities for diversity in licensed premises” and “improved temporary licensing options to support more one-off events, pop-up bars”.

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Homebrewed is a radio program and podcast dedicated to supporting the Australian Music Industry. Cameron Smith and Eamonn Snow have been presenting Homebrewed since November 2017 and have received excellence awards and the admiration of local bands for their presentation of Homebrewed and their continued support of the Australian music scene. This podcast is designed so you can enjoy conversations with musicians, industry representatives and music media personalities.

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