Mike Grieve, Chair of NTIA Scotland and Director of Sub Club; Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for the City Centre and Co-Chair of the City Centre Taskforce and Rt. Hon. John Graham MLC Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy in New South Wales (NSW)
Rt. Hon. John Graham MLC, Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, for a special one off event in Glasgow this week.
He was joined by Mike Grieve, Chair of NTIA Scotland and Director of Sub Club, and Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for the City Centre and Co-Chair of the City Centre Taskforce, bringing together international ministerial leadership with senior civic and industry representation.
The Scottish visit formed a key part of a wider international exchange focused on strengthening the case for formal ministerial leadership of the night-time economy (NTE) within central government.
During his time in Scotland, Minister Graham met with senior policymakers, civic leaders and industry representatives. Discussions focused on the strategic importance of embedding the night-time economy within government structures through a dedicated portfolio, enabling coordinated policymaking across licensing, planning, transport, policing, health, tourism, treasury and the arts.
New South Wales is widely regarded as an international case study for how a formal ministerial model can unlock reform, strengthen cross-departmental collaboration and deliver measurable economic and cultural outcomes. The creation of a Night-Time Economy portfolio has provided structured oversight, legislative backing and long-term stability for the sector, positioning it as core economic and cultural infrastructure.
John Graham, NSW Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy, said: “It is great to see Glasgow leading the way with bold plans for its night time economy. All the ingredients for success seem to be there – a concrete plan, a new model and the recent Council decision to resource implementation. Alongside Glasgow’s reputation as a creative, musical and friendly city this feels like a real step forward for Glasgow after dark.”
Through this Scottish programme, the NTIA aims to facilitate dialogue on how similar leadership frameworks could enhance policy coordination, protect reform through parliamentary scrutiny and ensure the sector has a resilient, clearly defined mandate within government.
Mike Grieve, Chair of NTIA Scotland, said: “Scotland has an incredibly rich cultural and nightlife heritage, and Glasgow in particular has long been recognised internationally for its music and creative communities.
Welcoming Minister Graham to Scotland provided a valuable opportunity for our civic and industry leaders to engage directly with a proven model of ministerial leadership that has delivered tangible reform and revitalisation. As we advance a new leadership model for the night-time economy in Glasgow, international collaboration of this kind is vital. The global direction of travel is clear — the night-time economy requires formal representation and strategic oversight at the highest levels of government.”
Cllr Angus Millar, Convener for the City Centre and co-chair of the City Centre Taskforce, said: “John and his colleagues in New South Wales have been doing a remarkable job in turning around the evening economy in Sydney. As Glasgow puts the finishing touches to our own model to take forward this city’s nighttime sector, there’s still much to learn from our peers, particularly any parallel experiences with Glasgow and how other cities have overcome their particular challenges. It was great hearing from someone leading a global exemplar for doing this work right, particularly the critical importance of partnerships in delivering for business and for people.”
The Glasgow programme was followed by a visit to the Scottish Parliament, where Minister Graham and Mike Grieve met with Kaukab Stewart, MSP for the Glasgow Kelvin constituency, to discuss the importance of establishing the new Glasgow Night-Time Economy Commission, the hugely positive impact of the NSW initiative on Sydney’s hospitality and cultural scene, and the wider benefits of developing national NTE strategies globally.
