Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Liquor licensing

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:05): (205) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation and concerns the process of applications for liquor licensing in Victoria – just another slowdown that is happening here. Minister, even those of us who take a sceptical view of government regulation would accept that some activities, sites and trades require licensing, but in order to avoid stifling individual freedom or smothering the development of businesses these licensing mechanisms should be simple, proportionate and timely. They should not spawn unnecessary huge, complex bureaucracies which constantly expand and involve ever higher barriers to licensees and entry and become ever more financially onerous.

The example I wish to raise tonight is the process of application to vary a liquor licence. This ought to be even more straightforward than an initial application – you would think so, normally. Yet I have had a number of discussions with a Melbourne business because they have waited now for two months and they still have not received even an acknowledgement of their application. At a time when we should be supporting the resurrection of tourism and hospitality businesses in our CBD and across the state – outside the tram tracks – we should be fast-tracking applications like this which allow the resumption of trade and the boosting of trade. This requires far better response times on matters such as this than we are receiving now.

So the action I seek, Minister – I do not know where they are, but anyway – is the release of figures demonstrating how the system is operating. This will be enlightening. How many full-time equivalent staff are currently employed in issuing liquor licences, how many days are worked per week in the office and at home and what is the average number of days from application to the granting of a new liquor licence, let alone a variation of existing licences? We cannot be having people working from home when this urgent work needs doing. I am told there are only four people in the office and there used to be 16 or 18. They cannot all be in their pyjamas at home. It is not good enough. We need them back in the office, back getting these licences streamlined, and that is the action I seek from the minister. Streamline the whole process, respond to people’s applications and get it happening quickly, please, Minister. We need action here.