'Sydney has no life after dark' says Lord Mayor Clover Moore

A parliamentary inquiry is investigating what impact Sydney's lockout laws have had on the city's nightlife.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore blamed the lockout laws, introduced in 2013 to tackle a growing street violence problem, for a 10 per cent drop in visitors under the age of 35 visiting Sydney.

"The result was a sledgehammer approach to crack a nut," Ms Moore told the inquiry today.

After five years of lockout and last drink laws, a cross-party parliamentary inquiry has found while crime rates have dropped, Sydney's nightlife has suffered as well.

"Using the term lockout, it's as though Sydney is not open at night," Ms Moore said.

According to Ms Moore, the City of Sydney has tabled data showing half a million people under the age of 35 have avoided visiting Sydney each year since the laws were introduced, however NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian questioned those figures.

"There was an independent report the mayor put forward last year and I was pleased to read it said Sydney had the highest number of tourists in all categories and that will continue," Ms Berejiklian told 9News.

However, members of the Australian music scene lended their voice to the cause after suggestions the number of live music venues in Sydney have halved since the laws came into effect.

"We lose the ability to give our creatives that confidence to launch," musician Jenny Morris told the inquiry.

Owners of small Sydney bars have also voiced their thoughts on the lockout laws, saying their patrons aren't troublemakers.

"They're not really looking at the good operators and what they're doing and rewarding them, there's just one brush for all," Independent Bars Association's Karl Schlothauer told 9News.

While the panel has already heard how the advent of Uber has helped get people home safe, they will next hear evidence from police and health workers before a recommendation is made to the Government.