Queensland's New Lockout Laws To Shake Up Nightlife

Queensland has reached agreement to pass new lockout laws in 11th hour negotiations announced today.

Under the laws, set to start July 1, 2016,  there will be a 3am last drinks policy at venues in Queensland's 15 Safe Night Precincts, which will include some of Brisbane's most popular clubs in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and the inner west.

All other venues in Queensland will stop serving alcohol at 2am.

The laws will ramp up in 2017, with a 1am lock out law in place in the Safe Night Precincts effective from February 1, 2017.

Drug offenders can also be banned from the Safe Night Precincts - currently only people with offences of violence can be banned.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "We are committed to curbing alcohol-fuelled violence, but we are also committed to increasing employment and devoting more resources to mental health."The Premier announced that a deal has been struck with two crossbench MPs to pass the laws. Under the agreed deal , the introduction of the lockouts will be staggered with the 1am lockout delayed until February 2017.

The government has also agreed that an independent review of the laws will be held from July 2018.