Top Ten Priorities of Hospitality Businesses on the Sunshine Coast

Save Our Venues Forum

Hosted by Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien MP together with Shadow Minister for
 Small Business Senator Jacinta Price on 21 April 2026 at the Maroochy RSL

The Save Our Venues forum brought together 45 Sunshine Coast business leaders from across the hospitality sector including night-time operators to discuss pressures facing the sector and to identify priorities to inform government on how it might assist.  

General Insights 

A shift in government thinking is required from a ‘big brother’ approach enforcing costs and complexity which leads to operators being told “no” to a cooperative approach seeking simplicity, flexibility and low-cost compliance so operators can more easily get to a “yes”.  

A shared goal to assist the sector is needed from local, state and federal governments. This requires governments to get out of the way so venues can focus on their core business and to align government levers impacting venues so they move in the same positive direction.     

A cultural transition is underway driven by younger generations who socialise differently and consume entertainment, food and especially alcoholic drinks differently compared to older generations, thereby putting additional strain on the operating models of nightlife operators. 

Top Ten Priorities 

1. Improve transportation 
   Lack of reliable late‑night public transport, taxis and rideshare is lowering demand and average customer spend, and causing some concern among patrons about safety.
2. Make planning rules easier 
   Restrictive planning rules and zoning are limiting venue growth, flexibility and long‑term certainty, especially for the night‑time economy.
3. Lower taxes 
   Payroll tax, alcohol excise, GST-nuances, surcharge changes are worsening already thin operating margins and, in some cases (e.g. payroll) are also disincentivising growth. 
4. Get inflation down 
   Rising supply costs - fuel, food, beverage, utilities, insurance and services - are eroding profitability and poor real wages is lowering demand and average customer spend. 
5. Consult more  
   Lack of consultation on policy and compliance, and also place‑making decisions and timing of road closures for events and works are severely interrupting operations.
6. Make approvals & processes easier 
   Licensing and approvals are slow, complex and poorly coordinated, creating uncertainty and delays for operators and, in some cases, are reducing investment.
7. Fix the energy problem 
   Ongoing hikes in energy and utilities are a major cost driver, and pressure on venues to transition to greener operations do not come with commensurate financial incentives.

8. Solve for labour shortages

   Locals not wanting to do the work, high visa sponsorship costs, complex awards, higher pay rates and the NDIS pulling workers away are limiting operating capacity.

9. Support live music 
   Inconsistent enforcement and a lack of practical, solution‑focused support around noise regulation and compliance makes it difficult to offer live music.   

10. Modernise trading restrictions  
    Trading hour restrictions are out of step with consumer demand which is unfairly penalising well‑managed venues.
    
     

    This forum was part of Ted O’Brien’s “Save our Venues” campaign