Queensland nightlife tsar recommends liquor law overhaul, but holiday trading stays

Queensland's first nightlife commissioner, John "JC" Collins, has proposed a significant overhaul of the state's liquor laws, urging an update to decades-old regulations that he argues unfairly burden venues and treat nightlife as a nuisance.

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For too long the narrative has been the nightlife is a nuisance, and been treated that way.

Collins' report, released publicly, recommends reviewing restrictions on alcohol sales during holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as late-night trading. He also called for a revision of "outdated" sound regulations, suggesting that compliance action should only be triggered by five separate household complaints, a stark contrast to the current system where a single complaint can lead to intervention.

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We need to drive every day of the year, not just one particular day of trade.

However, the state government has already dismissed key recommendations. Youth Minister Sam O'Connor stated that changes to Christmas and Easter trading hours are "off the table." He stressed the importance of year-round business and ensuring hospitality workers have opportunities to work and celebrate on these days.

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Queenslanders are first up and first to bed, and that’s ok, but we’ve got to try to make the framework that gets people having dining experiences after 8 o’clock.

The commissioner also highlighted a cultural shift needed to encourage later dining, noting that "Queenslanders are first up and first to bed." He believes that to effectively host international visitors for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the state must be more accommodating to late-night dining experiences.

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If we’re going to invite the world here, we have to be open after 8:30.