New liquor laws are now before the NSW parliament, where debate will shortly commence.

The reforms proposed in the Bill will contribute a great deal to the progress and maturity of NSW, whilst being safe and responsible at the same time.

If these licenses are to be available before 2009, then they must pass by December 14.

The benefits for the hospitality sector, small business, tourism, wineries, breweries, and the struggling live music scene in the new Liquor Bill 2007 are of real importance to the development of this state, not to mention the promise of new cultural and social opportunities for residents.

We believe that the market is big enough to accommodate more diverse licenses, and that the concerns of existing stakeholders regarding competition are unfounded.

There is overwhelming public support for reform, and we now encourage the NSW Parliament to pass the Liquor Bill 2007 before the end of the current session to enable the availability of new licenses before 2009.