The ACT Government is reinforcing its commitment to Canberra's dynamic night-time economy with more than 40 events declared as special events over the next 12 months by the Head of Access Canberra.
Special event declarations automatically extend trading hours for eligible licensed venues without the need to apply, giving businesses greater flexibility to plan ahead and celebrate key cultural and sporting moments with their patrons. More events may be added for special celebrations.
The following licence types are covered by the special event declaration:
- a General Licence
- an On Licence
- a Club Licence
- a Special Licence.
For any of the above licence types that are not already licensed to trade to 2am or beyond, their trading time will be automatically increased to 2am for these special events.
The first special event will take place on Friday 5 September when the Socceroos play New Zealand in Canberra at GIO Stadium.
The declared special events include some of the ACT's and Australia's most iconic celebrations, such as the AFL and NRL Grand Finals, Floriade NightFest, SpringOUT Pride Festival, the Australian Tennis Open Finals, and the Enlighten Festival.
While eligible businesses do not need to apply, licensees must continue to comply with all existing licence conditions, including any additional requirements outlined in the special event declaration.
Businesses can also benefit from free extended floor plans and reduced annual fees for supporting live music and the arts.
A full list of events can be found on the ACT Legislation Register.
It is expected this declaration will also apply to the Raiders' upcoming home finals once dates are announced.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
"Canberra's night-time economy is a vital part of our city's identity and growth. By declaring over 40 special events in advance, we are giving businesses the certainty and flexibility they need to plan, celebrate, and thrive.
We're excited to have the Socceroos in Canberra to kick off the special event season, with a competitive game against our New Zealand neighbours.
Events like these bring the community together, encourage tourism and support local businesses, and we're proud to support that."
Quotes attributable to a/g Minister for the Night-Time Economy, Chris Steel:
"We are continuing to support the night-time economy by removing unnecessary red tape and giving businesses the tools they need to grow, diversify, and contribute to Canberra's dynamic after-dark scene.
While this is an exciting period, I would also remind businesses of their ongoing responsibility to serve alcohol responsibly and to prioritise the minimisation of alcohol-related harm throughout extended trading periods.
I encourage all eligible licensees to check the list of declared events and consider how they might extend their trading and get the most from these opportunities."
Quotes attributable to Head of Access Canberra, Josh Rynehart:
"Each Special Event Declaration has been carefully selected based on its significance at the local, state, national, or international level, offering valuable opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate with their local venues.
By automatically extending trading hours for eligible licensees, we are streamlining processes and giving venues greater flexibility to celebrate key moments.
Businesses can access free, tailored support through Access Canberra to help them make the most of these opportunities. I encourage them to reach out to the Event Coordination and Business Assist team by visiting accesscanberra.act.gov.au."
