I would like to thank the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner's for bringing his trademark analysis and big picture thinking to the night-time economy.
As this report states, previous policies have had severe unintended consequences, wiping out hundreds of venues and causing long lasting social and economic damage.
During two years in office we've worked hard to rebuild our night-time economy, but as the Commissioner says there is still so much work to do to harness its full potential. Overregulation, safety and the cost-of-living continue to be handbrakes on the night-time economy.
This report is a call to double down on our work.
One of the specific areas the Commissioner singles out for reform is the expensive and arduous development application process. This report shows that the DA has become a stop sign to progress.
Small businesses are being saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of costs and countless hours of work to make modest changes. We have to make it easier and less costly for hospitality businesses to boost vibrancy and productivity.
The report highlights the important role of transport in the night-time economy. For our nightlife precincts to thrive, people need a safe, fast and affordable way to get home. Work is already underway to increase public transport in the right places to support growth in the night-time economy.
The Commissioner makes an important call out about the safety for women. The report says 65% of people would go out more if they felt safer, that represents a huge opportunity. Safety for women in our nightlife precincts is a fundamental human right, but the commissioner highlights that it's also holding the night-time economy back from its full potential.
We need to continue finding ways to improve transport, cut costs and increase flexibility for venues - to build a nightlife that's more fun, safe and affordable.
We will have more to say in response to the specific recommendations in the coming weeks and months.
Read the Review of regulatory barriers impeding a vibrant 24-hour economy report
