Sydney, Wednesday 21 January 2026: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed today’s announcement by the NSW Government to remove the final lockout law restrictions, marking the complete abolition of the damaging policy exactly 12 years after it was first introduced.
The removal of the 3:30am last drinks rule, along with blanket requirements for plastic cups, per-person drink limits, late-night shot bans and mandatory RSA marshals after midnight, represents a significant victory for the industry after years of sustained advocacy.
The NTIA has consistently argued that the lockout laws and associated restrictions were based on a flawed premise that treated all venues as equally high-risk, regardless of their individual track record or management practices.
Through detailed data analysis, stakeholder engagement and collaborative policy development, the NTIA has worked with government, law enforcement and communities to demonstrate that targeted, risk-based regulation delivers better outcomes than blanket restrictions.
The NTIA particularly welcomes the review’s finding that conditions should be applied on a case-by-case basis, ensuring venues doing the right thing are not hampered by regulations designed to address problems that no longer exist.
“This is a landmark moment for Sydney’s night-time economy and vindication for the venue operators, artists, workers and patrons who have advocated tirelessly for these laws to be consigned to history,” said Mick Gibb, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association.
“The NTIA and its members have been front and centre in efforts to demonstrate that safety and vibrancy can coexist, and that good operators should not be punished by blunt, one-size-fits-all regulations simply because of their postcode.
“Today’s announcement recognises that safety can be maintained through existing RSA requirements, licence conditions and plans of management – not through arbitrary time-based restrictions.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of successive governments seeking to progressively unwind the lock out laws and rebuild night life from the ground up. It’s the result of genuine bipartisan collaboration between industry, government and regulators to find solutions that support both safety and vibrancy. It demonstrates what can be achieved when policy is based on evidence and consultation.”
–ENDS–
