Graham West, MLA. ALP Member for Campbelltown

The package of reforms announced earlier today reflects changing industry needs and community standards and desires. The rewrite of the Liquor Act 1982 followed more than 900 submissions to the 2005 bill, 450 of which related to the issue of live music. And this bill delivers for live music venues. We consulted and we listened; we listened to police, local government, many industry participants and the community

LIQUOR LICENSING LAWS

Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: My question is directed to the Minister for Gaming and Racing. Will the Minister provide the House with an update on the review of the State's liquor laws?

Mr GRAHAM WEST: This morning the New South Wales Government announced the biggest shake-up of liquor laws in 25 years. Of course, whenever one announces a new policy, be it on racing issues or liquor issues, one checks the newspapers to see what they say.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Hawkesbury to order.

Mr GRAHAM WEST: Rather than go through a long list of the good things in the bill—I will save that for later—I quote the Sydney Morning Herald, which stated:

The Premier, Morris Iemma, last night hailed the new laws as a dramatic transformation of Sydney's drinking culture that would create a "true cosmopolitan city".
The Daily Telegraph stated:

The paternalistic nature of the licensing laws concerning restaurants has also been cast off with restaurants no longer required to serve a meal in order to serve alcohol.
I thought that was pretty good until I turned to the editorial in the Daily Telegraph, which stated:

A victory for civilisation!
The editorial further states:

moves to increase penalties for drunken behaviour are also to be applauded.
If one logs on to the Raise the Bar website it is no surprise to see that that organisation, which has been active on this subject for many months, also welcomes the changes. The package of reforms announced earlier today reflects changing industry needs and community standards and desires. The rewrite of the Liquor Act 1982 followed more than 900 submissions to the 2005 bill, 450 of which related to the issue of live music. And this bill delivers for live music venues. We consulted and we listened; we listened to police, local government, many industry participants and the community.

The SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members will cease interjecting.

Mr GRAHAM WEST: On this issue, having listened to the community, there will be no increase in standard trading hours for hotels or bottle shops. There are a number of key elements to the new liquor bill.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order.

Mr GRAHAM WEST: The Liquor Administration Board will be abolished. It will be replaced by the new Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority, which will deal with applications for liquor licences and extended trading hours, and impose penalties in disciplinary matters. Regulatory control over licensed venues will be enhanced by providing new powers to the Director of Liquor and Gaming to impose and vary licence conditions, issue directions to licensees, declare lockouts and curfews, and deal immediately with undesirable liquor promotions that encourage intoxication and irresponsible alcohol consumption. These powers will be additional to the disciplinary powers of the new Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority.

Liquor licence categories will be simplified, reducing costs and providing greater flexibility for a wider variety of licensed venues. A self-exclusion scheme for people with alcohol problems will be put in place to allow them to ban themselves from alcohol venues. Following consultation with the local council and community, areas in which there is chronic alcohol abuse will be able to be declared restricted areas and there will be greater controls on the sale and supply of liquor. The reforms include new provisions to support and encourage live music, including cheaper and simpler liquor licences for entertainment venues, and allowing minors to perform in hotels and clubs subject to strict controls.

Wineries will be able to charge for tastings, sell wine at approved wine shows and farmers markets, operate a restaurant and motel, and license a number of wineries in the same region, all under the one liquor licence. Boutique brewers and distillers outside metropolitan areas will be able to charge for tastings and make cellar door sales to the public to promote regional small business and tourism. Restrictions on how motels can sell liquor to the guests will be removed. Bed and breakfast and farm-stay operators will be legally able to sell alcohol to their guests. A new process will be put in place to allow liquor accords to ban troublemakers from multiple licensed venues. There will be new offences to deal with drunk and unruly patrons, including on-the-spot fines of $550 for patrons repeatedly trying to re-enter a venue when they have been asked to leave.

There will be increased penalties for under-age drinking and intoxication offences. Maximum fines for supplying alcohol to minors and intoxicated persons will rise to $11,000 and/or 12 months in jail—up from $5,500. Maximum fines for minors caught inside licensed venues or purchasing alcohol from a licensed venue will double from $1,100 to $2,200. There will be expanded powers to ban irresponsible liquor products and promotions. There will be a new community impact statement for new liquor licences and applications for extended trading hours for high-impact venues. Requirements for greater public consultation will increase community input into licensing decisions. The current dine or drink authority and the $15,000 fee it currently attracts will be abolished.

There will be a specific new hotel licence for bars without gaming machines or takeaway sales. This will facilitate the establishment of small bars. The Government's liquor bill will provide comprehensive reforms to all sectors of the liquor industry in all areas of New South Wales. The centrepiece of the reforms is to take licensing out of the courts and introduce an administrative-based system to reduce complexity and cost for industry, the community and government. In doing so, I confirm that there will not be any diminution of the existing powers and responsibilities of the Casino Control Authority in relation to casino matters. I confirm also that there will be no diminution of the powers of the regulatory authority in relation to the liquor and gaming industries in New South Wales. These new liquor laws strike a balance between community and industry needs now and into the future.