Once again, Labor is leading and the Liberals are following when it comes to supporting Tasmania’s night-time economy.

Labor launched our bold Night-Time Economy Strategy back in October 2024, and added to it in February this year, when we announced that we would streamline permits for festivals and events with a “one-stop-shop” approach for approvals.

As usual, Jeremy Rockliff is late to the party.

The hospitality and events sectors have been knocked around by broken promises and red tape for the last 11 years the Liberals have been in government.

Here’s a list of Labor’s Night-Time Economy policies announced over the past 6 months:

• Reducing red tape by working with city councils to cut unnecessary permits and costs for late-night venues, outdoor dining, and festivals struggling to find sustainable business models.
• Creating 24-hour economy zones to streamline land use approvals and tailor trading regulations to encourage business growth and activity after hours.
• Supporting live music and arts venues by offering liquor licence fee rebates for venues that promote live entertainment.
• Introducing protections for existing venues, so they can operate freely.
• Focussing on nighttime workers – Labor’s strategy will prioritise the safety, security, and well-being of workers that our nighttime economy relies on such as cleaners, hospitality staff, security guards, transport workers and emergency services.  
• Introducing a simplified, low-cost liquor licence for small businesses, pop-up events, and food trucks.
• Establishing “live music and cultural precincts” to protect venues from noise complaints.
• Streamlining permits for festivals and events with a “one-stop-shop” approach for approvals.
• Guaranteeing liquor licence approval timeframes to provide certainty for businesses and event organisers.
• Expanding affordable late-night transport options in collaboration with public and private providers.
• Encouraging family-friendly and non-alcoholic options such as twilight markets, outdoor cinemas, and expanded non-alcoholic drink offerings.
• Supporting partnerships between arts organisations and licensed venues with co-funding for events that combine liquor service with live performance, gallery exhibitions, or community arts.

Which initiative will the Liberals try to claim as their own tomorrow?

Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Sport & Events