Page 3280 - Week 11 - Thursday, 12 September 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
There are about 540 liquor licences in the ACT. In Canberra, the most planned city in Australia, we have the least controls from a planning perspective on the issue of licences. My colleague Norm Jensen will expand on that. Liquor laws in other jurisdictions give persons the ability to object to an issue of a licence. The grounds of objection usually centre around the impact of a licence on amenity, both in business centres and in residential areas. However, the ACT liquor system is based on a deliberate policy of having the marketplace determine the supply of liquor. All it has done is determine whether the person is fit and proper to hold a licence, and other regulatory mechanisms come under ancillary legislation.
It was put to me that our marketplace system is the best in Australia. I was told that a liquor licence application in the ACT currently takes three to four weeks. It could be completed without legal assistance. It does require minimum documentation; but if you cross the border you will wait months, and you may well have a hearing as to whether a licence should be issued, and that hearing may hear objections from shopkeepers and residents who may be affected by the proposed licence grant.
When in government previously I was unimpressed with the reaction that my proposals met from my own advisers. I must say that I do hope that they will take another look at this issue. If you look at Manuka now you will see how quickly the social scene can change - I know that Mrs Grassby will agree with me - likewise, Weston and Phillip. It was put to me that the Liquor Licensing Board already had the power to deal with complaints arising from the conduct of patrons, noise and all the rest. But there are legal limitations to that. There is a sports store proprietor in this town, near a tavern, who has had the window broken up to 30 times.
One of the big problems about renewal of licences is that we do not have a hearing. Section 38 of the Act gives an automatic right of renewal, subject to payment of the prescribed fee. There should, therefore, be third party rights of access for the regular renewal of licences. I do not see the wowsers coming out and impeding the industry. We also need to look at the regulatory impact of other old-fashioned laws on the liquor industry itself. Having the Liquor Act prescribe building contents and the styles and manners of barrooms, et cetera, creates a far greater load on proprietors than they need bear. They should put all their time into policing their premises and less time into dealing with all the red tape.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Your time has expired, Mr Collaery.
MRS GRASSBY (4.10): I find it incredible that anybody would want to raise the legal drinking age to solve problems; yet some people in this house would allow them to have guns and do other things. Raising the drinking age is not going to solve the problem; closing down drinking outlets will not improve the problem; nor - - -
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .