Latest Industry Updates

Drinks Legislation

Have Your Say on the Lockout Laws

Have Your Say on the Lockout Laws

Trade are being invited to have their say on the review of the lockout laws. The review is being led by former High Court Justice, the Hon. Ian Callinan AC QC, and will assess the effectiveness of the 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks legislation that applies in Kings Cross and Sydney CBD precincts, while also looking at the state-wide 10pm restriction of take away liquor sales. The review will also…

Read More »

NSW Government Establishes New Liquor and Gaming Regulator

NSW Government Establishes New Liquor and Gaming Regulator

The Gaming and Liquor Administration Amendment Act 2015 came into effect this week, establishing the new regulatory body Liquor & Gaming NSW, which encompasses both the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing and Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority. The act was passed by the NSW Government towards the end of last year with the purpose of creating a stronger and singular state regulatory body for the…

Read More »

Two Kings Cross Venues Closed for Selling Drugs to Officers

Two Kings Cross Venues Closed for Selling Drugs to Officers

Dreamgirls and Bada Bing in the Kings Cross precinct, Sydney have been closed for selling illicit drugs to undercover officers. Both venue licences have been suspended for six months and could be suspended for longer by the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing and NSW Police Force. Back in December 2015, undercover officers were able to purchase cocaine from staff at the strip clubs, who were also observ…

Read More »

New England Hotel Receives Penalty Notices

New England Hotel Receives Penalty Notices

The Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing has issued the New England Hotel in Armidale with several penalty notices for serving alcohol to an intoxicated person as well as breaching a licence condition. The sentence, which was decided on Monday , also includes fines of up to $3,000. According to the office, an employee of the New England Hotel was seen serving three vodka based drinks to a male patron wh…

Read More »

Drinking in the Workplace Costs Employee Job: Lawyer

Drinking in the Workplace Costs Employee Job: Lawyer

A case involving an employee of a large South Australian wine producer last month should have caught the attention of everyone in the drinks trade, because it involved that ever-present industry hazard of an employee being over the limit in the workplace. By Walter MacCallum , Director, Aitken Lawyers T he employer had recently implemented a trial workplace drug and alcohol policy at one of its plants i…

Read More »

Minister for Justice and Police Announces ‘Festive Season Blitz’ of Licensed Venues

Minister for Justice and Police Announces

Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police, Troy Grant, has announced that inspectors from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) will be targeting licensed venues this Christmas and New Year. Mr. Grant said inspectors will be deployed across Sydney and regional locations including the Central West, North Coast and Hunter as part of a ‘festive season blitz’ operation that started over the …

Read More »

Customs Warehouse Licence Fees to Increase from January

Customs Warehouse Licence Fees to Increase from January

The Australian Taxation Office has announced that customs warehouse licence fees will increase in 2016. From 1 January, a new, non-refundable fee of $3,000 will be payable when applying for a warehouse licence. The increased fee comes as a result of a comprehensive review of licensing costs that was undertaken by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) in August and September. In additi…

Read More »

Liquor Licence Holders Can Now Update Their Details Online

Liquor Licence Holders Can Now Update Their Details Online

The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has launched a new online contact details form , which will allow liquor licence holders to update their contact details via  OLGR’s website. From next year, OLGR will also begin sending liquor licence fee notices by mail, email and SMS, meaning that holders need to ensure their details are up to date – a requirement under the Liquor Act 2007. OLGR says the form wi…

Read More »

Industry Leaders Say Blanket Lockout Laws Won’t Work

Industry Leaders Say Blanket Lockout Laws Won

It is now almost two years on since the introduction of lockout laws in Sydney and statistics show that alcohol-fuelled violence has lowered in zones where the legislation is effective, but surged in neighbouring suburbs. The legislation has also resulted in the closure of a number of iconic Sydney venues and a drop in the number of hospitality jobs and club music royalties. Over in other states, licensee…

Read More »

Trading Hours Are Extended in WA

Trading Hours Are Extended in WA

The Government of Western Australia has extended trading hours in the state. The reforms came into effect last weekend and allow hotels, taverns and small bars to trade until midnight on both Saturday and Sunday and nightclubs through to 2am on the following Monday morning. The WA Government hopes the changes, which form part of the 2015 Red Tape Reduction Report Card, will help to increase revenue and to…

Read More »
Share the News