Restrictions had limited late-night trading since 2014.
Photo credit: Gilberto Olimpio on Unsplash
In a landmark decision for Sydney’s nightlife, the New South Wales government has officially abolished the city’s controversial lockout laws, exactly 12 years after they were first introduced.
Announced on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, by Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy John Graham, the repeal marks a renewed effort to bolster Sydney’s after-dark culture. The original laws, brought in by then-Premier Barry O’Farrell in 2014, restricted venues from admitting new patrons after 1:30 AM and enforced a 3:00 AM last drinks cut-off, with a 3:30 AM closing time. They also included limits on drink purchases and other measures aimed at curbing late-night violence.
Although partially rolled back in 2020, the laws were widely criticized for their lasting damage to the city’s cultural fabric, contributing to the closure of more than half of Sydney’s live music venues over the past decade.
“We are now declaring that the lockout laws have been completely abolished. I’m delighted to say goodbye to this chapter of Sydney’s nightlife story,” said John Graham. “The lockouts had good intentions but a diabolical impact on the night-time economy and the reputation of our city.”
As part of the repeal, the government will also scrap the requirement for RSA marshals after midnight in certain venues and remove the mandatory use of plastic cups.
Read the NSW government’s full statement here.
