“They’re not out interacting with these businesses at night or seeing what’s going on,so there’s just less planning for that,” Graham said. “This is about corralling planning,police,Liquor and Gaming,transport. Without some real definition,without some real power,it’s a very tough task even with the best of intentions.”
The opposition’s bid to strengthen and expand the nighttime office is grounded in an Octoberparliamentary report that revealed many of the government’s changes to liberalise and grow the nighttime economy had barely been used.
For example,dedicated live music or performance venues are allowed to stay open an hour longer than their standard trading time if they host a live arts event after 8pm for at least 45 minutes.
But when Liquor and Gaming surveyed 196 such venues,only 54 responded. Out of those,just three said they had used the 60-minute extension;two in the City of Sydney and one in Randwick.
The government also created “special entertainment precincts” where councils could institute later trading and a more relaxed approach to noise complaints or outdoor dining. But so far,just one trial – Enmore Road in the inner west – has occurred.
“After promising a 24-hour economy,the government has hit the snooze button,” Graham said.