Brisbane’s bid to become a world-class nightlife destination is being held back by red tape, with Queensland’s peak hotel body warning mandatory ID scanning and other regulations are making the city less welcoming to visitors.
Queensland Hotels Association chief Bernie Hogan said the State Government’s response to a major review of the night-time economy amounts to only a modest step forward, with several reforms sought by the hospitality industry still awaiting action.
The warning comes as new data shows Brisbane’s inner city has climbed from 16th to eighth in the 2026 Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index.
Yet Brisbane remains behind Sydney, Melbourne and western Sydney centres including Blacktown and Parramatta, highlighting the challenge facing Queensland’s capital.
The latest index also found Queenslanders were going out 22 per cent more than the previous year, despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The QHA says the figures show strong demand for nightlife, with regulation remaining the major barrier to growth.
The industry body has singled out Queensland’s mandatory ID scanning requirements as one of the biggest barriers facing venues.
Certain late-trading venues in Safe Night Precincts must use networked ID scanners that check patrons against a database of people subject to banning orders.
The QHA says the rules can create unnecessary obstacles for tourists, business travellers and event visitors who may be refused entry because one person in a party cannot produce the required identification, even when there are no other concerns about their behaviour.
The issue was highlighted in Night-Life Economy Commissioner John Collins’ Moonside report, which recommended easing ID scanning requirements for smaller venues.
The State Government did not support the recommendation.
Its Queensland Nightlife Economy Action Plan 2026-2032 has instead supported, supported in principle or supported in part 41 of the report’s 62 recommendations.
The initial reforms focus heavily on live music, including changes to noise complaint processes and streamlined approvals for extended trading.
Other reforms sought by the hospitality sector, including further liquor licensing changes, risk-based ID scanning, red tape reduction and licensing fee reform, have been left for further work.
The QHA has also pushed for longer trading hours and simpler rules around noise and venue operations.
The association says the impact of the reforms will matter more than the number of recommendations formally accepted.
The timing is significant, with Brisbane preparing to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Queensland seeking to attract more international visitors for major sporting, cultural and business events.
The hospitality industry says Queensland needs to get its regulatory settings right well before the Games if Brisbane is to compete with other major Australian cities for visitors and nightlife spending.
With the clock ticking towards 2032, the QHA is now calling for the outstanding reforms to move from the Government’s agenda into action.
“The Queensland Government needs to be bold for the hospitality industry. It’s made up of small and family businesses, exactly the kind the Queensland Government wants to back,” Hogan said.
“It’s about providing choice for Queenslanders and our guests not control, and allowing our industry to help shape Queensland’s image as a global destination.”
