Liquor licensing
The Liquor Licensing Division monitors social and cultural trends regarding alcohol consumption and, where appropriate, proposes legislative changes to help achieve safer communities while promoting industry growth. We regulate the provision of liquor licences and compliance with the Liquor Act 1992 ensuring responsible and safe liquor practices.
Our clients
The Liquor Licensing Division (LLD) serves a wide range of clients including:
- the general public of Queensland
- the Queensland liquor industry
- licensees and staff
- training organisations
- Liquor Accord groups
- local councils
- Queensland Police Service
- Indigenous communities, their Councils, Community Justice Groups and community residents.
We work with training organisations to ensure managers and staff of licensed venues are trained in the responsible service of alcohol and the responsible management of licensed venues. Together with local councils and the Queensland Police Service, we help create safe environments around licensed venues. We also work with Indigenous communities participating under the Making Choices Meeting Challenges strategy to support local solutions to alcohol management.
Structure
- Under Treasurer, Gerard Bradley
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
- Executive Director, Liquor Licensing Division, Chris Watters
- Director, Liquor Operations, Alan Stone
- Acting Director, Liquor Policy, Katherine Navin
- Acting Director, Communications, Projects and Indigenous Reform, Kylie Hickling
- Executive Director, Liquor Licensing Division, Chris Watters
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
Key issues facing the output
- Integration of the Liquor Licensing Division, Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation and Office of Racing to form the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. This is being undertaken to ensure communities benefit from a more robust regulatory framework and more comprehensive and consistent harm minimisation measures.
- Implementation of the State Government’s Indigenous Liquor Reform Package including the Premier’s ‘go as dry as possible’ policy and a commitment to increased service delivery.
- Implementation of legislative changes from the Liquor Act Review, which are to be progressed through Parliament in 2008. The review will affect the operating, licensing, compliance and policy environment of the industry as our processes change with the amendments.
Goal
To regulate the Queensland liquor industry in keeping with national harm-minimisation priorities.
Number of liquor complaints received and finalised
Analysis: The number of liquor complaints received decreased by 13.5 percent compared with the previous financial year.
Output performance highlights
| Measure | Target | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | ||
| Number of compliance activities conducted in Indigenous communities and catchment areas | 250 | 4551 |
| Number of community development activities conducted in Indigenous communities | 150 | 2982 |
| Number of licensed premises checked for compliance | 6,500 | 4,9973 |
| Number of complaints investigated | 1,500 | 2,6734 |
| Number of liquor, wine and adult entertainment applications processed: | ||
| complex applications (e.g. new licences, detached bottle shops, adult entertainment permits) | 1,200 | 8425 |
| moderate applications (e.g. no advertising required) | 6,000 | 5,0635 |
| standard applications (e.g. one-off permits) | 13,000 | 13,8625 |
| Quality | ||
| Percentage of applications for decision review where original decision successfully defended | 70% | 71% |
| Percentage of complaints finalised | 90% | 98%6 |
| Percentage of complying licensees in Indigenous communities and catchment areas | 60% | 91%7 |
| Timeliness | ||
| Percentage of front-end licensing activities completed within nominated timeframes | 95% | 86%8 |
Variances
1. An increase in the number of complaints resulted in intensive compliance activities in five Indigenous communities.
2. Intensive consultation occurred with communities in relation to the Government’s Indigenous alcohol reforms.
3. The number of compliance visits carried out has been impacted by an increase in complaints requiring investigation.
4. Complaints have exceeded the original target primarily due to the Queensland Police Service’s issuing of liquor incident reports.
5. Number of applications received is mainly dependent upon general economic conditions and population growth. Targets can fluctuate by significant amounts over the year.
6. Officers across the State focussed on complaint resolution in this period.
7. The greater percentage of compliant premises represents a greater awareness by licensees of licence conditions relating to alcohol restricted communities.
8. The percentage of front-end risk assessments carried out within the required timeframes has been impacted by the increase of complaints requiring investigation.
Our business priorities
Business priority
Improve our services and regulatory environment to meet changing social and cultural needs.
- Protecting community safety and reducing red tape
In 2007–08, the Liquor Licensing Division (LLD) consulted with industry and community to formulate proposed changes to the Liquor Act 1992 with the aim of improving compliance and reducing red tape for industry participants.
These changes are designed to help the industry experience continued growth and contribute to the Queensland economy.
Proposed changes include:
- changes to licensing fees to align assessed risk levels of venues to costs of regulation
- standardised trading hours
- the introduction of annual licence fees to contribute to improved compliance efforts and community education
- mandatory responsible service of alcohol training
- Ministerial power to ban undesirable liquor products.
Collectively, these changes will promote community safety and protect community standards.
Proposed changes also include a licence restructure which will reduce the number of licence types. This will reduce red tape, making it easier for stakeholders to understand licence application requirements and obligations.
LLD announced the proposed changes to the Liquor Act in the Regulatory Impact Statement/Draft Public Benefit Test document and held forums allowing the industry and wider community to provide feedback about the changes.
In 2008–09, the Treasurer will progress the final proposals through Parliament and the newly formed Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) will then implement the legislative changes. Read more about OLGR in the Gambling outputs section.
Changes to the Liquor Act will provide a regulatory framework that is more responsive to industry needs and increase support for licensees, staff, trainers and Liquor Accords. OLGR will also continue holding industry forums to help stakeholders understand and work within the new regulatory framework.
Business priority
Work with Indigenous communities to improve alcohol management.
- Creating safer and healthier Indigenous communities
The Liquor Licensing Division works with Indigenous community justice groups to develop Alcohol Management Plans which either prohibit alcohol or set a carriage limit on alcohol within community areas which are enforced under the Liquor Act.
To strengthen existing legislation, in May 2008 laws designed to reduce alcohol-related harm in Indigenous communities were passed by Parliament.
Commencing on 1 July 2008, the laws include:
- prohibiting Indigenous councils (other than in the Torres Strait) from holding general liquor licences (canteens) by 31 December 2008 to remove the reliance on alcohol profits to fund social services
- toughening restrictions on drinking in public places
- making it an offence to bring illicit alcohol into a community
- simplifying the process for households to ban alcohol consumption in their homes
- banning home brew and home-brew equipment in all communities that have a zero alcohol carriage limit.
These laws will help improve the health and wellbeing of community members and reduce alcohol related violence.
In 2008–09, OLGR will:
- implement these laws and continue delivering the Queensland Government’s alcohol reform commitments
- review alcohol carriage limits in 19 Indigenous communities and provide compliance action in respect of ‘sly grog’ trade
- liaise with the Torres Strait Regional Council to either remove general liquor licences or determine a continuance of the licences by 1 July 2009.
OLGR will also continue to monitor and review current liquor restrictions in the regions surrounding Indigenous communities to enhance liquor controls. A strategic compliance plan will provide for ongoing review and enforcement action by liquor inspectors in various catchment areas surrounding the communities.
- Helping Indigenous communities take charge
In 2007–08, LLD increased its presence in Indigenous communities by doubling compliance visits and increasing community engagement.
Compliance visits involved LLD investigators going to communities to meet with police, Indigenous councils and licensees to review Alcohol Management Plans.
Community engagement activities such as the Strong Community Life program are conducted in Indigenous communities to share key educational messages about healthy lifestyle choices and the dangers of binge drinking. The program helps educate the younger generation and encourage individuals to think about themselves and their community. Read more about the Strong Community Life program in the Engaging our stakeholders and the community section.
In 2008–09 OLGR will continue to work with Indigenous community authorities and regional police to communicate changes to liquor laws, and provide activities that promote responsible drinking messages.
Business priority
Continue to support Liquor Accord groups throughout Queensland by providing a second annual State-wide conference and assisting activities.
- Supporting Liquor Accords to improve patron safety
Liquor Accords are agreements that promote a cooperative approach to developing safe and well-managed environments in and around licensed premises. Playing a vital role in harm minimisation they are essential to safety, effective communication and problem solving between licensees and key stakeholders.
There are currently 60 Liquor Accords in Queensland – an increase of 50 percent since 2007–08. LLD supports the accords through special funding, a dedicated website and other online tools, as well as hosting an annual conference (last held in September 2007 in Yeppoon).
This conference attracted approximately 120 delegates from the liquor industry, police, health and community service providers.
Along with industry experts and representatives from interstate jurisdictions, delegates heard from representatives from eight of the most progressive accords around the State on their latest initiatives.
In 2007–08 we also provided more than $30,000 in liquor accord funding to strengthen processes and strategies.
In the year ahead, the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing will continue supporting Liquor Accords and provide formal recognition of these groups under the Liquor Act.
As part of the Liquor Act reform, a new section will be inserted into the Act which identifies how to minimise harm through voluntary participation in Liquor Accords. This new section will cover the Accord’s purpose, its member base and formalisation clauses.
Insight into Indigenous alcohol reform
Indigenous Liquor Operations Acting Manager, Andrew Matthews (right), meets with Director of the Cape York Institute and Indigenous activist, Noel Pearson (left), at the 2008 ALLAC Indigenous Working Party.
Minimising harm from alcohol improves people’s health, reduces domestic violence and gives children the best chance of an education and a safe childhood.
Working with State regulators and the communities themselves, Liquor Licensing Division (LLD) continued to play a key role in determining how to achieve these goals, particularly in Indigenous communities throughout 2007–08.
In June 2008, LLD coordinated the Australasian Liquor Licensing Authorities Conference (ALLAC) Indigenous Working Party Conference in Cairns.
ALLAC comprises representatives from liquor licensing authorities in Australia and New Zealand. The group meets annually to discuss national approaches to minimising alcohol-related harm.
The working party met to discuss implementation of Indigenous harm minimisation and alcohol- management strategies, licence conditions for licensees in communities and catchment areas and best practice community education programs.
While in Cairns, the group took the opportunity to visit Wujal Wujal, south of Cooktown, and Yarrabah, just outside of Cairns, to gain an insight into these two very different communities. The Yarrabah visit coincided with a Strong Community Life event. Read more about Strong Community Life in the Engaging our stakeholders and the community section.
Last reviewed 5 November 2008
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