The Bligh Government has today placed a freeze on applications by pubs and clubs seeking to stay open after midnight in a bid to further crack down on alcohol-fuelled violence.
Premier Anna Bligh said the moratorium on all Liquor Licensing applications for extended trading hours between 12am and 5am would be effective immediately and would remain in place for the next year, pending the outcomes of a Parliamentary Inquiry into alcohol-related violence.
Ms Bligh said the moratorium would be retrospective, affecting about 127 applications from throughout the state currently before Liquor Licensing, along with any further applications received over the next 12 months.
The government will amend the Liquor Act 1992 to impose the moratorium.
“It was not that long ago that the term “glassing” was foreign to us but today it has become an all too common and all too unfortunate part of our vocabulary,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are continuing to witness a tide of anti-social, alcohol-fuelled behaviour in our pubs and it is a situation being faced on a weekly basis by our law enforcers, our health workers, publicans and parents and families across Queensland.
“We must act against the distinct shift in behaviour we have witnessed in and around our night spots over the past few years – a distinct shift in not only the level of violence but also in its severity.
“The moratorium that I have announced today will affect 127 current applications and the vast majority of those are not located in already established nightclub areas but rather in the suburbs of Brisbane and other Queensland cities.
“In those circumstances the community, I think everyone would agree, is telling us enough is enough.”
The government’s Law, Justice and Safety Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Alcohol-Related Violence is due to report in March 2010.
“We will then consider whether further amendments to Queensland’s liquor licensing legislation are necessary, taking into consideration the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee,” Ms Bligh said.
“It makes no sense to allow decisions on these applications to proceed when the Parliamentary Committee is still pursuing its Inquiry.”
Tourism and Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor said the Bligh Government had already introduced the most significant alcohol reform program in the country with the Liquor and Other Acts Amendment Act 2008, which prioritised harm minimisation and cracked down on early opening pubs and clubs.
“We’ve also moved to restrict the use of glass in problem clubs and pubs throughout the state – but today we take matters a step further,” Mr Lawlor said.
“We recognise that the majority of Queenslanders consume alcohol responsibly and that the majority of our licensed venues operate responsibly.
“But there will always be people who put themselves at risk and by doing so put the greater community at risk with their unacceptable behaviour.
“We have real, legitimate concerns about the impact of extended trading hours on local communities, particularly in the outer suburban areas but at the same time, we recognise the need to maintain the opportunity for Queenslanders to enjoy a vibrant night life.”
Mr Lawlor said for this reason, the legislation will allow the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation to consider applications on an exceptional basis for extended trading hours, within the moratorium period, but only in a limited number of designated areas.
These specific areas will potentially be limited to inner city areas which have a concentration of venues already operating with extended trading hours.
Further, the moratorium will not affect applications for trading on New Year’s Eve or applications for one-off events such as special or major functions such as weddings and birthdays, which will continue to be considered on a case by case basis.
Media Contact Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Other languages