Liquor Bill 2007

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (Parliamentary Secretary) [6.25 p.m.], in reply: I thank honourable members for their detailed and thoughtful contribution to the debate on the Liquor Bill 2007 and cognate bills. The liquor licensing reforms provided in the bills will benefit industry and the community for many years to come. Reforms such as the new general bar licence, changes for wine makers, and more flexible licensing for a range of tourism and accommodation providers have received strong support in the community. There is a widespread sense of expectation about these reforms. There is widespread support for these reforms from the community, and, I especially acknowledge, from the live music industry.

The bills will ensure that the liquor and hospitality industries can meet the needs of residents and tourists throughout New South Wales. The bills will ensure also a greater focus on reducing alcohol-related harm. They provide the necessary tools for licensees and regulators to work with the community and promote a culture of responsible service and consumption of alcohol. I will respond briefly to some issues raised by honourable members. The Leader of the Opposition referred to the police linking program. The Government understands that there may be some concerns by clubs and hotels about the linking program.

It is important to understand that the data collected for the program is for New South Wales Police Force intelligence purposes only. The data received by police cannot be used as evidence in courts or in relation to any application before the present Licensing Court or the Liquor Administration Board. Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile made general comments on his concerns about the increase in sales of alcohol and whether that would be linked to the increase in consumption. It is not possible at this time to determine whether the proposed reforms will result in an increase in the number of licensed premises. The figure of 4,000 new venues that has been suggested does not appear to have any basis in fact. However, there is no clear data that would support a proposition that an increase in the number of liquor outlets would result in an overall increase in alcohol consumption.

According to data maintained by the Liquor Administration Board the total number of hotels, liquor stores, clubs and restaurants has increased by approximately 26 per cent since 1996. During that period the amount of alcohol consumed per person has not changed significantly. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and based on the amount of alcohol available for consumption in Australia, since 1996 the estimated apparent per person consumption of alcohol is steady at just under 10 litres.

In response to an issue raised by Ms Lee Rhiannon and Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile regarding community impact statements, there is a potential for bars of all sizes that focus on selling alcohol to have an impact on the local community through noise, antisocial behaviour and problems associated with intoxication and irresponsible service of alcohol. Therefore, applications for the new general bar licence will be subject to the new community impact statement process.

Local councils can also consider some of the issues that will be considered as part of that process during the planning approval process. As a local council member in another part of my life, in the council I was involved with, and many others, I know that the planning approval process is quite extensive. The Government will try to align those two processes as much as possible to reduce any duplication. However, there are alcohol-related issues that are not considered during development applications, such as the conditions applying to a liquor licence and how alcohol is sold and supplied. The community impact statement will assist the casino, liquor and gaming control authority in properly considering an application in this regard. The Government appreciates that the regulations will be important to the operation of the new liquor licensing regime. The proposed liquor regulation cannot be finalised at this time as the regulation-making powers upon which it will rely will not be finalised until the liquor reform bills are considered and finalised by this Parliament.

The new liquor regulation will deal with similar matters to the existing regulation. While they are important matters, they are generally procedural and administrative in nature. A draft regulation indicating the proposed thinking in this regard has been made available. Similarly, a document outlining the operation of the proposed community impact statement has also been provided. As the new liquor regulation will be a principle statutory rule, the Subordinate Legislation Act requires that it be subject to the full regulatory impact statement process. The Government has indicated that this will include wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders who will be closely involved. We need to consult with relevant agencies before the regulation is finalised.

Before going into Committee I indicate the Government's position in relation to some of the proposed amendments. Ms Lee Rhiannon foreshadowed an amendment to the provisions relating to small bars in an attempt to cap the number of people in those places. We need to be careful in this area. In the Government's view, limiting bars to a certain number might make them economically unviable. The Government indicates at this stage that it does not propose to support that amendment. I refer, next, to an amendment to restrict the ownership of bars. Why would we restrict the ownership of only small bars and not include, for example, hotels, restaurants, clubs and retail licences? Similarly, the Government does not propose to support that amendment.

Members of the Liberal Party foreshadowed an amendment relating to surf lifesaving clubs. The Government will support that amendment. The Government accepts the argument that patrons of surf lifesaving clubs attend those clubs on Friday nights and it would be ridiculous not to allow them to continue to consume alcohol. Similar provisions relating to Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays have been in place for a number of years and those provisions have not caused any problems. These amendments will be considered in detail in the Committee stage. I thank everyone for their contributions to debate on these bills and commend them to the House.