We’re not asking for handouts, we’re asking for a fair chance to survive.

Melbourne’s bars, clubs, and small businesses are going under at an alarming rate. And it’s not because people have stopped going out. It’s because the cost of staying open keeps going up, while support keeps falling away.

In the past three years, operating a venue has become around 30% more expensive, with no matching rise in revenue. Between soaring insurance premiums, energy bills, rent, council rates, land taxes, ATO interest charges, and endless fees and red tape, running a business has become near impossible.

Many venues have seen their insurance premiums skyrocket from $7,000 to $60,000, with others facing increases of over $100,000 in just three years.

Other venues have even seen their liquor licensing fees skyrocket from $4000 to over $9,000+, with no clear explanation or added benefit, just another crushing cost on top of everything else.

We’ve seen many iconic venues and businesses go under. We’ve watched institutions close their doors forever, the kind of places that helped shape communities and culture all across Australia and even the world.

We’re speaking up now, not just for ourselves, but for every bartender, DJ, kitchenhand, sound tech, promoter, supplier, and small business that makes up the heartbeat of Melbourne.

Why This Matters:

Rising taxes and costs mean businesses have to pass it all onto customers just to survive. If things don’t change, we’ll see more closures and job losses, it’s a losing battle for everyone.

This isn’t just about bars. It’s about real people. People who’ve put everything they have into building something. People who love what they do, but are being pushed out by policies and bureaucracy.

What We’re Asking For:

We’re not asking for handouts or special favours. We’re just asking for a fair go, the kind of simple, practical changes that could stop thousands of businesses from going under.

✅ Stop piling on more taxes and hidden costs. We’re already stretched to the limit.

✅ Cut the red tape. Let us focus on running our businesses, not just ticking boxes.

✅ Give targeted support to the venues still trying to recover from the damage of COVID.

✅ Create a national venue insurance scheme, similar to WorkCover or TAC to ensure essential coverage is accessible and affordable for venues, especially live music and nightlife spaces.

✅ Introduce temporary premium relief or government-backed insurance guarantees for venues that have been unfairly priced out of coverage due to industry-wide risk profiling.

✅ And most importantly, listen to us. Create a task force that includes real voices from hospitality, nightlife, and small business, not just bureaucrats behind desks.

We’ve helped bring life to cities and towns across Australia through music, events, creativity, and culture. We’ve supported jobs, boosted the arts, and created spaces where people can connect, celebrate, and feel alive. But right now, the entire scene is drowning in rising costs and outdated systems, and we can’t keep doing it alone.

In addition to the rising taxes, insurance costs, licensing fees and endless red tape, there is now a growing issue with how compliant venues are being treated by enforcement and policing. On 30 November 2025, police walked into a fully licensed Melbourne venue and directly told management to turn the music off with no valid reason or explanation. There were no noise complaints and no safety concerns. It was a heavy handed action that shocked staff and management.

Venues that follow the rules should not be treated like they are doing something wrong. Nightclubs, bars and restaurants are some of the most regulated environments in Victoria. They have security, CCTV, trained staff and strict compliance requirements, yet they are being singled out while real crime in our communities continues to rise. People committing home invasions, assaults and serious offences are often walking free, but compliant venues are being policed more aggressively than the criminals.

This is not a political issue. It is about fairness, accountability and protecting Melbourne’s nightlife and small businesses. Venues are already struggling under extreme operating costs, and unnecessary enforcement pressure only pushes more to close.

We are calling for proper oversight and transparency around inspections and enforcement actions, clear and consistent guidelines for how compliant venues are treated, and a respectful working relationship between authorities and the hospitality and nightlife industries. Melbourne’s nightlife deserves support, not intimidation.

If you care about live music, local culture, small business, and the future of nights out in Melbourne and Australia, please sign this petition.

Let’s send a clear message: enough is enough.

We’re just asking for the chance to keep doing what we love, without being taxed, fined, or regulated out of existence.