In May 2025, the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner was requested by the Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night-time Economy to investigate the regulatory barriers impeding NSW’s
night-time economy, quantify their productivity and wider economic impacts, and to provide prioritised recommendations to the NSW Government to address these barriers.
The Commissioner provided the review’s report to the Minister on 29 August 2025. The report identified 55 recommendations that complement the NSW Government’s already significant reform program, removing barriers holding the night-time economy back from billions of dollars in additional economic activity.
Key recommendations include:
- further streamlining planning and licensing processes to make it easier to open and run businesses or to run events after dark
- expanding cost-effective late-night transport options to make it easier for people to get out and enjoy what NSW has to offer
- clearly communicating existing initiatives, like the Vibrancy Reforms, so businesses and councils know how they can benefit from them.