❓ Question regarding the Liberal-National government's measures to reduce red tape in the liquor industry, specifically how these changes affect licensed venues in the member's electorate. The Minister outlines several changes made to reduce red tape.
AnsweredQoN 794Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIQUOR
INDUSTRY — RED TAPE REDUCTION
794. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
Given that this week is Repeal Week, can the minister please
update the house on measures that have been introduced by the Liberal–National
government to reduce red tape in the liquor industry and what this means for
licensed venues in my electorate?
INDUSTRY — RED TAPE REDUCTION
794. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
Given that this week is Repeal Week, can the minister please
update the house on measures that have been introduced by the Liberal–National
government to reduce red tape in the liquor industry and what this means for
licensed venues in my electorate?
AnswerView source ↗
Just before I answer that question, I would like to thank and
congratulate the member for Pilbara —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, member for Mirrabooka and member for Girrawheen, the
minister is answering a question.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I take the opportunity to thank and congratulate the
member for Pilbara. We were elected together in the same year. He has done a
fantastic job for Western Australia and it has been a privilege to work with
him and be his friend. I congratulate the new leader, the member for Blackwood–Stirling.
I know that he will do a great job.
I thank the member for the question.
Of course, the issues about liquor in her electorate of Perth are very
important to that area. Many residents and people involved in the liquor
industry there will welcome some of the changes we have made. People would know
that the negative effects of alcohol in our community is a really sensitive
issue and that there is a real need for the sale and supply of alcohol to be
tightly regulated wherever the risks are high; however, the majority of Western
Australians enjoy alcohol responsibly.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : Just listen a minute!
The overregulation of low-risk areas
can place an unnecessary burden on the regulators, on businesses and on
sporting organisations. Members will recall that the government made amendments
to the legislation back in 2010 when we included exemption provisions in the
Liquor Control Act for the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in certain
circumstances. We have therefore loosened that red tape and made it easier.
Most publicised at that time was the
provision to allow the consumption of BYO—bring your own—liquor
in limousines licensed to carry no more than 14 passengers; that was really
important. Another important exemption was established for low-risk functions
where alcohol is sold. Previously, any function where alcohol was sold required
an occasional licence so that a whole process had to be gone through no matter
how small or insignificant the function. The new exemption means that an
occasional licence is no longer required for a function that is expected to
have fewer than 100 attendees and run for less than two hours, or fewer than 75
attendees and run for less than four hours and the function is expected to
finish no later than 10.00 pm. This new provision has made a significant
difference to, and has been really well received by, a lot of organisations in
the community, particularly small organisations.
Other notable exemptions for the consumption of BYO alcohol
were established for small live music venues with 200 or fewer persons; for
small businesses such as hairdressers and real estate agents that provide a
small amount of complimentary alcohol as part of their paid service; and the
sale of alcohol by producers' associations at farmers' markets
in agricultural regions, which is very important. I have nearly finished. A
really important reform was also achieved by streamlining the approved manager
process. Moving to a portable approved manager licence has cut an enormous
amount of paperwork and costs, particularly for licensees and managers. More
recently, the government introduced an easier, faster and cheaper method for
restaurants to obtain a licence to serve liquor without serving a meal. Now,
within a few short months, 143 restaurants have taken advantage of that method.
These changes have reduced
unnecessary red tape, which has been achieved in a responsible way. I am sure
that the liquor review, which will be handed down shortly, will also provide
more opportunities to keep red tape to a minimum.
congratulate the member for Pilbara —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, member for Mirrabooka and member for Girrawheen, the
minister is answering a question.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I take the opportunity to thank and congratulate the
member for Pilbara. We were elected together in the same year. He has done a
fantastic job for Western Australia and it has been a privilege to work with
him and be his friend. I congratulate the new leader, the member for Blackwood–Stirling.
I know that he will do a great job.
I thank the member for the question.
Of course, the issues about liquor in her electorate of Perth are very
important to that area. Many residents and people involved in the liquor
industry there will welcome some of the changes we have made. People would know
that the negative effects of alcohol in our community is a really sensitive
issue and that there is a real need for the sale and supply of alcohol to be
tightly regulated wherever the risks are high; however, the majority of Western
Australians enjoy alcohol responsibly.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : Just listen a minute!
The overregulation of low-risk areas
can place an unnecessary burden on the regulators, on businesses and on
sporting organisations. Members will recall that the government made amendments
to the legislation back in 2010 when we included exemption provisions in the
Liquor Control Act for the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in certain
circumstances. We have therefore loosened that red tape and made it easier.
Most publicised at that time was the
provision to allow the consumption of BYO—bring your own—liquor
in limousines licensed to carry no more than 14 passengers; that was really
important. Another important exemption was established for low-risk functions
where alcohol is sold. Previously, any function where alcohol was sold required
an occasional licence so that a whole process had to be gone through no matter
how small or insignificant the function. The new exemption means that an
occasional licence is no longer required for a function that is expected to
have fewer than 100 attendees and run for less than two hours, or fewer than 75
attendees and run for less than four hours and the function is expected to
finish no later than 10.00 pm. This new provision has made a significant
difference to, and has been really well received by, a lot of organisations in
the community, particularly small organisations.
Other notable exemptions for the consumption of BYO alcohol
were established for small live music venues with 200 or fewer persons; for
small businesses such as hairdressers and real estate agents that provide a
small amount of complimentary alcohol as part of their paid service; and the
sale of alcohol by producers' associations at farmers' markets
in agricultural regions, which is very important. I have nearly finished. A
really important reform was also achieved by streamlining the approved manager
process. Moving to a portable approved manager licence has cut an enormous
amount of paperwork and costs, particularly for licensees and managers. More
recently, the government introduced an easier, faster and cheaper method for
restaurants to obtain a licence to serve liquor without serving a meal. Now,
within a few short months, 143 restaurants have taken advantage of that method.
These changes have reduced
unnecessary red tape, which has been achieved in a responsible way. I am sure
that the liquor review, which will be handed down shortly, will also provide
more opportunities to keep red tape to a minimum.
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