Our cities and towns don’t shut down at night. It is a world not just of people out enjoying themselves, but a world of waste collectors, night shift nurses, office cleaners, rough sleepers and security guards that make up a large part of society and economy. But for too long it has been ignored says Professor Michele Acuto. “The night-time is critical to building a fairer and more sustainable future for our cities,” he said. “We urgently need to think more strategically about what happens after hours in Australian cities.”