Noosa 360

Further to our last update, the Queensland Government recently released its first ‘Nightlife Economy Action Plan 2026-2032’, including major reforms and liquor licensing changes aimed at supporting live music and grassroots venues as provided in italics below: 

Key Live Music and Licensing Reforms: 

Liquor Licence Fee Reductions: The government is implementing reduced liquor licensing fees specifically for grassroots venues that host live music to ease financial pressure. 

The ‘Homegrown’ Policy: Major touring acts are offered incentives – such as discounted booking fees at state-owned venues – if they include local Queensland artists as support openers. 

Expansion of Queensland on Tour: The touring program is expanding to connect regional venues with national promoters, bringing more live music outside of southeast Queensland. 

Sound and Noise Regulation Overhauls: The framework around entertainment sound is being modernised to review default limits and update how complaints are handled, providing greater consistency.  

These reforms follow the Moonside report by Queensland’s inaugural Nightlife Economy Commissioner, John “JC” Collins. While government accepted or noted 50 of the 62 recommendations – focusing heavily on cutting red tape for live entertainment, easing restrictions on extended trading frameworks, and supporting nighttime economies ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – it notably shelved or rejected some broader liquor deregulations proposals, such as altering holiday trading bans for Good Friday and Christmas Day or removing mandatory ID scanning.  

Of interest to Noosa are the sound and noise regulation changes, given residents’ concerns relating to live music in Noosa Junction. According to the Nightlife Economy Action Plan, 2026 will see the commencement of reviewing entertainment sound and liquor licensing reforms, 2027-28 will progress the entertainment sound reforms and develop a framework for declared special event days with automatic temporary trading arrangements. 2029 – 2030 is aimed to deliver supportive and effective licensing and regulatory systems and given that these have remained largely unchanged for decades, it is important that government take the time to get this right, given impacts to both residents and venues.  

Separate to these state regulations administered by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR), Noosa Council have also been investigating options for Noosa Junction as local government’s also have abilities to regulate entertainment precincts where the community seek different outcomes to statewide regulations.  

We will continue to update as new information becomes available including when there is opportunity for public feedback.  

Further information 

Queensland Nightlife Economy Plan 2026 – 2032 and Moonside report at www.housing.qld.gov.au/news-publications/strategies-plans/queensland-nightlife-economy-action-plan  

To contact Noosa Council email mail@noosa.qld.gov.au 

To contact the Mayor or Councillors www.noosa.qld.gov.au/About-Council/Councillors-and-meetings/Mayor-and-councillors  

For direct advocacy regarding regulations administered by OLGR, email the Attorney General via attorney.general@ministerial.qld.gov.au and please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au as well forward a copy of any response received.