Newly wed Forster raring for Mardi Gras

Newlywed Sydney City councillor Christine Forster says she and her partner, Virginia Edwards, will be "running around like mad people" when they march in the Mardi Gras parade.

Revellers at the 40th anniversary of the festival on Saturday, March 3 will be able to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriage for longer than usual.

For the first time at a Mardi Gras since the Kings Cross lockout laws were introduced in 2014, partygoers will be allowed into venues beyond the usual 1.30am or 2am lockout.

"We will be running around like mad people and shaking everybody's hands," Ms Forster told AAP on Thursday.

"It is very symbolic. I've just got married to Virginia and it is a big occasion for us and the LGBTI community".

Ms Forster had appealed to Premier Gladys Berejiklian to relax the laws for Mardi Gras as a gesture of goodwill towards the LGBTI community.

"This will serve as a trial for there to be a more broad relaxation of the lockout laws," the sister of former prime minister Tony Abbott said.

"The cycle of alcohol-fuelled violence in Sydney is now over. There has been a behavioural shift and it is time to wind them back."

Venues will still need to cease serving alcohol at 3am on the morning of March 4 - or 3.30am for venues with live entertainment - and comply with their other licence conditions, Liquor Minister Paule Toole said in a statement.

The exemption follows similar one-off arrangements for major events in Sydney including New Year's Eve and the NRL grand final.