But a report into the first six months of the government's new liquor laws shows little effect on alcohol-related violence. There was no obvious reduction in alcohol-related assaults in the period from July 1 - when the new liquor laws were introduced - to December 31, either in Safe Night Precincts or across Queensland. There was a continuing downward trend in common and serious assaults in Queensland from 8pm to 6am, and a continuing downward trend in ambulance attending Safe Night Precincts from 3am to 6am and a continuing downward trend in common assaults in the Valley. But the state did not record a "rapid decrease" in violence the government had hoped to see as a result of the 3am and 2am last drinks, Ms D'Ath said. The report says the lack of notable changes in trends since the introduction of the policy suggested the extended trading permits, allowing the sale of alcohol until 5am, "has compromised the impact of the policy".

"The current research evidence suggests that the introduction of lockouts (one-way doors) is not likely to significantly change current trends (except for pre-drinking)," the report reads. Ms Palaszczuk said cabinet had "extensive discussions" about the issue. "Many women have been raising certain issues with me in relation to travelling home on public transport in the early hours of the morning," she said. When asked if the 1am lockout was "dead and buried", Ms Palaszczuk replied that it would be removed from the legislation. There was "virtually no fidelity" to the 3am last drinks in Safe Night Precincts, due to the systematic and widespread use of extended trading permits, which allowed venues to sell alcohol until 5am, the report says.

Since July 1, there was not a single weekend night where all venues in Fortitude Valley stopped serving alcohol at 3am, the report reads. Ms Palaszczuk accused venues of "abusing" and "misusing" the permits to stay open later. Ms D'Ath said the system was "gamed" by some licensed venues. "The permits that were able to be applied for to extend trading up to 5am on one-off occasions for special events have been used by some venues to ensure that they had continuous trade," Ms D'Ath said. "To the point where they were openly advertising that they were continuing to trade until 5am and thumbing their nose at these laws."

As a result, pubs and clubs in Safe Night Precincts will have access to half the number of permits – from 12 to six per year – for use for "special events" to be defined by a criteria approved by the government. The permits will not be available on consecutive nights over weekends, and only once a month unless it related to a single event that went over a weekend. Ms Palaszczuk said the QMusic festival would be a significant event. In Fortitude Valley, the number of approved applications for extended trade until 5am from July 2, 2016 until January 4, 2017 was 280, with a weekly average of 10.4. Mandatory ID scanners will be introduced into Safe Night Precincts by July 1.

"This means that everyone will have to have a scanner in their premises if they wish to trade until the early hours of the morning," Ms Palaszczuk said. Venues will be able to access SNP funding where boards apply for it. Dr Lynham, a surgeon who entered politics after expressing strong views on alcohol-related violence, said reducing the hours that alcohol could be served was the "magic behind this policy". "Lockouts are a supplementary part of this... The main measure, as I've said before, is a reduction in the number of hours that alcohol can be served," he said. Dr Lynham said a significant event might be State of Origin, Australia Day, New Year's Eve or the Commonwealth Games but clubs had been using "any excuse" to stay open and "gaming the system".

Earlier on Monday, Valley Liquor Accord spokesman Nick Braban said it was unfair to say that pubs were "gaming" the system by using the permits. "For businesses to utilise legislation that exists and the government signed off on earlier last year and claim that we're gaming the system is I think a long bow to draw," Mr Braban told ABC Brisbane radio. Mr Braban said venues had previously used the permits when a big band or DJ was touring. The report writers, from the Institute for Social Science Research, also noted that previous research had shown that culture change took time and there was often an initial push-back by patrons to restrictions. Variations of lockouts are in place in all Australian jurisdictions except Tasmania.

Ms D'Ath said the changes would allow the 2am and 3am last drinks to work, with the laws assessed in early 2018. Earlier on Monday, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls described moves to scrap the lockout as a "backflip". Loading Opposition Employment spokesman Jarrod Bleijie said two years ago, the LNP developed its own safe night strategy. The LNP had previously vowed to scrap the 1am lockout.