The findings were released on Friday by an ACT Legislative Assembly committee that investigated the city's night-time economy. The report makes 28 recommendations, including the relief measures, after businesses described what the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) called "a little bit of a struggle" for the industry.
The committee accepted there had been "insufficient" relief for businesses affected by light rail and car park construction. It recommended the government "consider offering stronger temporary relief measures for businesses adversely affected by ongoing disruptions associated with major infrastructure works in the city, such as means-tested rent relief".
Anna Gray, owner of Charcoal Restaurant in the Melbourne building in Civic, said her turnover had fallen by 50 per cent since parts of London Circuit closed in 2024. "Customers don't want to come because there's no parking," she said, adding that financial assistance was "the only option" to let her business survive.
AHA ACT branch general manager Chris Gatfield said the economic climate was "really, really tough" for hospitality, which was not solely down to infrastructure projects, with "young people's preferences changing". He welcomed the recommendations but doubted they would all be delivered. "This will be a decision for government and so far I'm not convinced that they would be in a position to offer that kind of financial support," he said, adding that businesses suffering now should still be around to benefit when construction finishes.
The committee also found businesses were navigating a "multi-agency maze" of red tape. Fiction nightclub operator Josh Dotta told the committee he routinely dealt with 10 separate government agencies.