To all AHA (Vic) and TAA (Vic) members,
In February this year, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) contacted approximately 900 liquor licensees seeking information regarding business activities being provided at respective premises.
This process involved various venues completing a questionnaire, providing specific details of business operations such as live music and recorded amplified music entertainment.
Subsequently, the VCGLR has identified a substantial number of “Late night (general)” and a number of “Late night (packaged liquor)” licence holders whereby the Commission is now proposing to vary licence conditions pursuant to Section 58 of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998. These variations propose to introduce “high risk” conditions on licences, such as crowd controllers and security cameras where music is being provided above background levels. The packaged liquor aspect to the proposed variations relate to restrictions on “home deliveries”.
AHA (Vic) is concerned that whilst these proposals were subject to a consultation phase, the VCGLR has issued affected licensees with notification of intended variations to their licences.
Accordingly, AHA (Vic) has engaged legal representation and will be providing the VCGLR with formal submissions to detail our serious concerns with their course of action. Further, we will be meeting with senior representatives of the VCGLR early next week.
The VCGLR has requested affected licensees to “provide written feedback to the proposed variation to your licence”. Should you object to a proposed variation, we encourage you to submit your concerns in this regard.
As always, all members are able to obtain their own legal advice on matters such as this.
Further advice to members will be issued in due course, however if you would like to discuss this further please contact Kimberley Malcolm or Alex Bourjaili on (03) 9654 7100.
Regards,
Paddy O’Sullivan
Chief Executive Officer