Tough lockout laws used in Sydney have no place in Melbourne because of the economic and cultural damage it would do to the city, according to the the Victorian government.

NSW Premier Mike Baird has in recent weeks claimed success for Sydney's lockout laws despite reports of the policy destroying the city's nightlife and forcing venues to close down.

And independent Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus is pushing for a national approach to lockout laws in a bid to curb alcohol-fuelled violence.

But Victoria will resist any attempt for a Melbourne lockout after the failed trail of a 2am lockout policy in 2008, and because of the city's vibrant late night economy which is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The night time economy in the City of Yarra, which includes popular drinking strips in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond, has been valued at $665 million a year, employing 3000 people at night.

In 2008 the Brumby Labor government abandoned a 2am lockout policy in Melbourne. A KPMG report into Melbourne's lockout found there had been an increase in reports of violence during the trial.

State government data shows that the rates of assault in "High Alcohol Hours" – Fridays and Saturdays between 8pm and 6am – have dropped in the past two years.

The rate of assault in this period was 13.3 assaults per 100,000 people in 2012/13 to 11.7 in 2014/15.

Minister for Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett  says that previous attempts at a lockout in Melbourne were "a disaster for the fabric of our social and cultural identity".

Melbourne has ambitions to be a 24-hour city, including having a year-long trial of all-night public transport on weekends.

Victoria has placed an emphasis on smaller venues with a freeze on new licences to serve alcohol after 1am, with exemptions for small venues that serve food or feature live music.

"We tried lockout laws and it didn't work for Melbourne," Ms Garrett said.

"Unlike other cities, Melbourne has 24-hour public transport, a liquor freeze on big beer barns and inspectors out on the beat making sure licensees are doing the right thing."

The state opposition have also condemned Mr Baird's policy, backing Victoria's approach to late night venues.

"We trust Victorians to choose where and when to have a drink and we believe the solution to violence is to punish the violent and not everyone else. We don't see any sense in creating the ghost town that Sydney has become," Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said.