Shame file for South Australian pubs
The South Australian government plans to introduce a “shame file” for pubs that breach liquor laws.
The laws now being drafted by the state government would see pubs being “named and shamed” on a new public register.
They would remain on that list for five years.
The legislation is now being drafted by the minister for consumer and business services John Rau.
The update of the state’s liquor laws would enable the Liquor Licensing Commissioner to suspend the licence of a venue which repeatedly breaches the rules, restrict new liquor outlets in shopping complexes or attached to supermarkets from selling takeaway alcohol past 10pm and give police officers, licensing inspectors, venue owners and bar staff the power to seize fake IDs used by patrons.
“This Bill strikes the right balance between fostering a vibrant industry for our state, supporting local businesses to thrive, and ensuring there are adequate safeguards in place to protect our community,” Mr Rau said.
“We want to see new players enter the market and help grow this important part of our economy.
“While the introduction of the Bill outlines the legal framework for the new system, there are areas proposed by the independent review that Government are still considering and amendments will be required to the regulations and the Commissioner’s Codes of Practice.”
The legislation is based on 129 recommendations made by former judge Tim Anderson. That follows a comprehensive review completed last year
Mr Anderson’s recommendations included the State Government leaving in place a statewide 3am venue lockout.
The Late Night Venue Association of SA wants that lockout scrapped.
It says the lockout has had no impact on levels of alcohol-fuelled violence and it has written to Opposition MPs urging them to push to have the lockout overturned “as soon as possible as it is an unproven measure adopted by a nanny-state government which unfairly punishes a majority of responsible, law-abiding people”.
The Australian Hotels Association is also unimpressed.
Australian Hotels Association (SA) general manager Ian Horne said it was not necessary because authorities could already use fines and other disciplinary action to manage licensed venues.
“Industry is concerned an approach, as set out in the draft (Liquor Licensing) Bill, would be used more for the PR benefit of politicians” Mr Horne told the Adelaide Advertiser.
by Leon Gettler, March 30th 2017
