Qld entertainment venues plea for daylight saving and tax overhaul from Night-Life Commissioner

The man tasked with reviving Queensland’s night-life economy is being urged by some struggling venue owners to introduce daylight saving to the state.

John Collins is the new Night-Life Commissioner. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

• Timeline of daylight saving debate

Venue operators are demanding Queensland’s new Night-Life Economy Commissioner push for daylight saving and a tax overhaul to reinvigorate the state’s embattled entertainment precincts.

Former Powderfinger bassist and live music venue owner John ‘JC’ Collins was appointed to the publicly funded role of commissioner in September to work with businesses and entertainment precincts to grow Queensland’s vibrant and safe night-life environment.

Ideas being pushed by hospitality operators range from the introduction of daylight savings to law changes and the removal of taxes.

But despite the magnitude of the task, the gig is only two days a week over three years, with the government unable to confirm how big of a team Mr Collins will have to assist him in the role or if that team will be full-time.

Venue operators are calling for new Night-Life Commissioner John Collins to push for daylight saving and tax overhauls.

The part-time nature of the position has left some industry insiders worried what can actually be achieved.

“If we’re expecting him to advance the entire economy in only two days a week I think that would be very hard without an entire team of people underneath him,” said Matt Keegan, co-owner of Artesian Hospitality Corp, behind entertainment and music venues such as Cali Beach, Surfers Pavilion and Havana on the Gold Coast and The GPO in Brisbane.

“You would struggle to meet even all the relevant stakeholders if you’re only working two days a week.”

When questioned on whether two days a week was sufficient, Mr Collins said he would have to wait and see.

“Let me get through the six months and maybe assess it then,” he said. “At the moment, whether dynamics change in the next phase is unknown to me, as I said, it’s my first go at this.”

Despite only being in the job 14 days to date, Mr Collins has already toured the bulk of Queensland from Cairns and Townsville to Toowoomba and Ipswich, meeting with stakeholders and operators of bars, restaurants, nightclubs and music venues to hear the problems affecting the state’s night-life and gain ideas on how to fix them.

He has also attended a global conference with night mayors from around the world to discover what has been working overseas and what could be introduced to the Sunshine State; in addition to meeting with the NSW’s 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, who has been trying to turn around that state’s night-life.

“I don’t know if I’ll fix it, but I’m here,” Mr Collins said, revealing he had always been interested in taking on a “night mayor” role and it had even become a running joke with his band.

“I’m here to represent and listen to people.”

One of the biggest changes Queensland operators are calling for is the removal of Fringe Benefits Tax, which is a tax paid by employers on certain benefits provided to their employees or employees’ family, such as concert tickets or meals and drinks outside the office.

CEO of Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves Luke Fraser said removing FBT would encourage more companies to dine out at restaurants, bars and hotels leading to more economically viable venues and a stronger economy.

“More people would be spending more money in the economy and they (the Australian Taxation Office) would be recovering the GST still,” he said.

Mr Fraser also suggested introducing daylight savings for southeast Queensland, believing extra hours of sunshine encouraged people to stay out later and socialise.

“I genuinely think the southeast corner would do well from daylight savings and it would align us with the southern states and because of the weather you would see a lot of people going out after work, exercising and going to restaurants and bars and shows,” he said.