The lockout laws are under review - which means now's the time to speak up.

In the five years since the lockout laws were controversially rushed through the NSW parliament, Sydney’s nightlife has changed almost beyond belief.

Putting it bluntly, it’s been decimated: There are now 176 fewer venues in the city, with iconic spots like Hugo’s, Backroom, Soho, and Q Bar now all scratched off the map. Aside from the untold damage this has reaped across the music scene, the NSW economy is reportedly missing out on $16 billion a year due to our underdeveloped nightlife.

But there may now be a glimmer of hope: the NSW Government, led by Gladys Berejiklian, has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the lockout laws. The cross party committee will look at the impact of the laws across all aspects of Sydney nightlife, and they’re expected to report their findings to parliament at the end of September.

“Sydney remains one of the world’s leading cities and we want to make sure that residents and visitors can enjoy all that Sydney has to offer,” said the Committee Chair, Natalie Ward.

“We know there are strong feelings on both sides of this debate, and we are hoping to hear from as many people and organisations as possible. We would welcome submissions from anyone with an interest in this issue and will be holding public hearings in August.”

Public submissions to the committee are open until July 2, which means now is the time to make your voice heard. If you or your industry has been affected by the laws, now’s the time to write in a let the government know. You don’t need to be connected to a nightlife industry either — if the laws have changed how you go out in Sydney, then the committee wants to hear from you.

Make your submission here — and let your friends know to contribute as well.