The State Government will cut red tape and costs for venues that want to provide live entertainment between the hours of 11am and midnight.

The Government will essentially remove the requirement for formal “entertainment consent” between these hours, meaning the fee of $500 will also be scrapped.

Venues have long complained about the detailed and restrictive requirements placed on them for live entertainment, which sometimes even stipulate the styles of music that can be played and the instruments.

This new move will allow venues to host live music from 11am until midnight without having to jump through any regulatory hoops. The regular noise and planning restrictions will continue to apply, but the heavy hand of the Liquor Licensing Act will be lifted.

Entertainment consent will still be required between midnight and 11am.

Minister for Business Services and Consumers Gail Gago said Cabinet this week had given permission for her to draft an amendment to the Act.

“Once the changes have been drafted, targeted consultation will take place,” she said.

She said the changes would have a positive effect on the entertainment industry, with a simpler process for venues.

The Australian Hotels Association welcomed the proposed changes.

“This is an incredibly high-impact shot in the arm for hotels and live music,” said AHA general manager Ian Horne.

“Hotels are the main employer of live musicians in SA so the impact of this will be extremely significant. It is really fabulous news and the AHA is delighted.”

He said while current restrictions would still be in place between midnight and 11am, he believed the Government’s changes at other hours would remove many of the sillier constraints on entertainment.

The AHA’s manager of government relations and policy, Wendy Bevan, highlighted some of the inexplicable constraints, which include one venue being able to host didgeridoo and harp players, but not drummers.

“Draconian conditions such as being allowed to play duos or quartets but not trios has simply been frustrating and nonsensical and this decision to simplify the consents is a low-cost, high-return win for SA,” she said.

Live music Thinker in Residence Martin Elbourne had recommended removal of entertainment consent as part of his package of suggestions for improving Adelaide’s live music scene.

Bevan said it wasn’t unreasonable to maintain consent for venues that want to host live music after midnight.

“However, in other cases we would expect to see existing consents abolished before midnight without the need to apply and pay a fee,” she said.

InDaily reported in January that the Government was preparing to free up the legislative restrictions on live music in Adelaide.