McGowan pushes for revamp of liquor licencing laws
Opposition Leader MarkMcGowan has called on Police and the Director of Public Health to end a policy of automatic objection to liquor licences.
Mr McGowan said he wanted to change the law to give tourism bodies equal standing to police and health authorities in licensing determinations.
He said he wanted to introduce 'common sense' to liquor licensing.
Mr McGowan said the reform was vital to create more hospitality, tourism and music industry jobs, support entrepreneurs and create a better lifestyle for Western Australians.
He called for changes to the Liquor Control Act 1988 to make it easier for small bars, restaurants and other tourist establishments to get liquor licences.
As well as equalising the weighting in submissions Mr McGowan wants a new category to the public interest assessment which allows for a venue’s tourism, community and cultural benefits to be considered in licence applications.
He said the Police Commissioner and Executive Director of Public Health should only object when a venue poses an urgent health or public order risk.
In recent cases, liquor applications for the State Theatre and the Treasury Hotel were opposed.
“It’s ridiculous that businesses which want to provide a sophisticated experience for locals and tourists – such as the State Theatre and luxury Treasury Hotel – were knocked back," Mr McGowan said.
“These venues would hardly bustle with people looking for a fight, yet their licence applications were rejected on the dubious assertion that they would ‘create alcohol-related violence or crime’.
“Just because a luxury hotel wants to serve alcohol after midnight doesn’t mean that every patron is going to be knocking back drinks ‘round the clock. Let’s be sensible.
“The interventions of the Police Commissioner and the Executive Director of Public Health are well intended but sometimes poorly targeted. I know alcohol abuse in our community is a big problem, but kneejerk licence rejections are not the answer."
Colin Barnett said tourism was important in considering liquor licence applications, but not as important as police and community considerations.
"There are issues about alcohol and antisocial behavior and the police do have a very proper role," he said.
"Tourism has a say but it will not have equal say along with police and the local community and local government.
"I don't think there is any sense of a lack of access to cafes, bars, restaurants. All of that reform has been going on for years and has been progressed by this Government.
"I don't think that's the big issue in tourism. What matters in tourism is what this Government is doing.
"Redevelopment of the city of Perth. Redevelopment of Scarborough beachfront. The creation of major new marine parks in the Kimberley."
