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Public briefings and hearings

The Committee held a public briefing on Wednesday 2 December 2015.

The committee held public briefings and hearings with invited witnesses as follows:

CAIRNS - Thursday 21 January 2016. 

TOWNSVILLE - Friday 22 January 2016.

GOLD COAST - Thursday 28 January 2016.

BRISBANE - Monday 1 February 2016. The broadcast footage for this hearing will be available here until replaced by more recent footage.

Final transcripts for all briefings and hearings can be viewed under the Related Publications tab.

Objectives of the Bill

The key objectives of the Bill are to –

• Tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, particularly late at night, through an evidence-based, multi-faceted approach by way of legislative amendments
• Provide greater clarity and improve operational efficiency in the regulation of licenced premises through miscellaneous amendments to the Liquor Act 2002
• Ensure consistency across Queensland statutes dealing with director’s liability through amendments to the Fair Trading Act 1989.

Some key outcomes of the Bill would be:

• Regular service hours for alcohol in licensed venues across Queensland would end at 2am unless the venue is located in a prescribed safe night precinct approved for 3am liquor trading in which case a 1am lock out will apply
• The 1am lockout would apply to all licenced venues within prescribed safe night precincts approved for 3am trading, including those which cease trading at 2am
• The reduced trading hours and lockout would not apply to casinos and airports that are subject to a commercial special facility licence or to industrial canteen licences 
• Licencees would retain the ability to apply for and be granted extended hours permits for trading up until 5am on up to 12 occasions per year
• No new approvals for trading hours outside of 10am – 10pm for takeaway liquor
• Premises licenced to provide gaming or adult entertainment would be able to remain open past 3am, though not to serve alcohol past that time
• High alcohol content and rapid consumption drinks could not be sold or supplied after midnight.  The specific types and amounts of drinks would be prescribed by regulation following stakeholder consultation
• Low risk specialist venues could apply for exemptions from the ban on high alcohol content drinks after midnight
• Blood alcohol content readings lawfully taken by police would be admissible as supplementary evidence in prosecutions against a licensee
• Drug and Alcohol Assessment Referrals (DAAR) conditions on bail will apply to those most likely to benefit from the program.  DAAR conditions would be discretionary, failure to complete them would not be criminalised, and a defendant’s consent is required for making such a condition of bail.
• A number of amendments in respect of regulation of licenced premises. 

The Bill contains transitional provisions. 

The Bill would also:

• Allow for the sale of takeaway liquor to signed-in guests and visitors of community clubs
• Provide some exemptions in the preparation of RAMPs
• Allow the sale of craft beer at promotional events
• Clarify acceptable proof of age documentation
• Clarify the meaning of ‘liquor’
• Better regulate the use of carparks for the sale and consumption of liquor.

Other Information

In examining the Bill, committee members will visit NSW to meet with stakeholders about the alcohol supply legislation applicable in that state. Visits to the Fortitude Valley, Cairns and Townsville entertainment precincts, police watchhouses and hospital emergency departments will also form part of the Inquiry.

The Tackling Alcohol-fuelled Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 and Explanatory Notes  are available from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

The Hansard transcript of the explanatory speech for the Bill can be accessed here.

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Referral

On 12 November 2015, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills, the Hon Yvette D’Ath MP, introduced the Tackling Alcohol-fuelled Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 into the Queensland Parliament.  In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the committee) for detailed consideration.

By motion of the House the committee is required to report to the Parliament by 8 February 2016.

The Committee tabled its report on 8 February 2016.  It can be viewed under the Related Publications tab.

Submissions

Submissions closed at 4.00 pm on Wednesday, 23 December 2015.

Submissions will only be published following formal acceptance by the Committee.