❓ Liquor licensing—Reform 45. Mr Terry Healy to the Minister for Racing and Gaming : I refer the minister to the Cook Labor government's commitment to deliver sensible and effective law reform. Can the
AnsweredQoN 45Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Liquor licensing—Reform
45. Mr Terry Healy to
the Minister for Racing and Gaming :
I refer the minister
to the Cook Labor government's commitment to deliver sensible and effective law
reform.
Can the minister
inform the house on how liquor licensing reforms will strengthen Western
Australia's vibrant economy and create jobs?
45. Mr Terry Healy to
the Minister for Racing and Gaming :
I refer the minister
to the Cook Labor government's commitment to deliver sensible and effective law
reform.
Can the minister
inform the house on how liquor licensing reforms will strengthen Western
Australia's vibrant economy and create jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for his question.
WA Labor, as the
party of small business, has delivered yet another reform. We have spent a
large amount of the last nine years hacking our way through the straitjacket of
red tape that was applied to the hospitality sector by the Liberal Party and
the National Party in government. One of the key—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Eventually.
I will make the
observation that we have just had, in December, the first tranche of reform in
this term of government, following on from previous reforms, pass the upper
house. It was dragged through, along with the Liberal Party, kicking and
screaming. Fortunately, with a little bit of assistance from the shadow over
there on that side of the Parliament, it eventually passed. We saw a whole
range of reforms to improve things for our night-time economy and small
businesses in the hospitality sector. Some key things we have now enabled—against
the wishes of the wowzers and the modern-day temperance champions in the
Liberal Party on the other side—is that alcohol can now be served by
hotels, taverns and small bars with or without a meal on a Good Friday and
Christmas Day. Trading hours on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day have
been extended to meet customer demand. A digital ID has been enabled for future
technologies to be accommodated as they emerge. There has been reduced
paperwork and costs. We have permanently extended the extended trading permits.
The flagship reform that I like to refer to because it
is so emblematic of what we have done in government is the further reform
to small bars legislation. Members will recall that the Liberal Party fought
long and hard against small bars being introduced to Western Australia. The
evil of small bars was opposed vehemently by the Liberal Party until Mark
McGowan managed to champion that reform in 2006, leading to the first small bar
in Western Australia being introduced and opened in 2007. I can tell members that
Western Australia now has 324 small bars. Our reform yet again extends the
limits for small bar patronage, which has gone up from 120 to 150 patrons. It
began with 90 patrons. In the early days, we also got rid of the public
interest test. Scary, small bars were not really that dangerous. We were able
to get rid of all that delay and the problems associated with the Public
Interest Assessment. I can tell members that since we passed that legislation
at the end of last year, there have been 18 approvals for the 150-patron limit
in our small bars across the state, which is a good thing to see. Producers of
spirits will also be able to make a greater range of products like ready-to-drink
beverages, including hard seltzers.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: I am sure the member would enjoy that.
I am fond of a hard seltzer myself.
We were fortunate to
eventually win the support of the Nationals, primarily.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia: We were able to ensure that the
banned drinkers register has been made permanent. That is a really good measure
for reduction in the harmful use of alcohol, a measure that has now been
permanently entrenched in the laws of the state. It has rolled out across the
Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Mid-West and Gascoyne. That is a good thing.
There is another
tranche of reform coming—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia: Beyond hard seltzers, perhaps the
Leader of the Opposition might get behind the second tranche of liquor reforms
and he can make some positive contributions. I look forward to it.
for his question.
WA Labor, as the
party of small business, has delivered yet another reform. We have spent a
large amount of the last nine years hacking our way through the straitjacket of
red tape that was applied to the hospitality sector by the Liberal Party and
the National Party in government. One of the key—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Eventually.
I will make the
observation that we have just had, in December, the first tranche of reform in
this term of government, following on from previous reforms, pass the upper
house. It was dragged through, along with the Liberal Party, kicking and
screaming. Fortunately, with a little bit of assistance from the shadow over
there on that side of the Parliament, it eventually passed. We saw a whole
range of reforms to improve things for our night-time economy and small
businesses in the hospitality sector. Some key things we have now enabled—against
the wishes of the wowzers and the modern-day temperance champions in the
Liberal Party on the other side—is that alcohol can now be served by
hotels, taverns and small bars with or without a meal on a Good Friday and
Christmas Day. Trading hours on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day have
been extended to meet customer demand. A digital ID has been enabled for future
technologies to be accommodated as they emerge. There has been reduced
paperwork and costs. We have permanently extended the extended trading permits.
The flagship reform that I like to refer to because it
is so emblematic of what we have done in government is the further reform
to small bars legislation. Members will recall that the Liberal Party fought
long and hard against small bars being introduced to Western Australia. The
evil of small bars was opposed vehemently by the Liberal Party until Mark
McGowan managed to champion that reform in 2006, leading to the first small bar
in Western Australia being introduced and opened in 2007. I can tell members that
Western Australia now has 324 small bars. Our reform yet again extends the
limits for small bar patronage, which has gone up from 120 to 150 patrons. It
began with 90 patrons. In the early days, we also got rid of the public
interest test. Scary, small bars were not really that dangerous. We were able
to get rid of all that delay and the problems associated with the Public
Interest Assessment. I can tell members that since we passed that legislation
at the end of last year, there have been 18 approvals for the 150-patron limit
in our small bars across the state, which is a good thing to see. Producers of
spirits will also be able to make a greater range of products like ready-to-drink
beverages, including hard seltzers.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: I am sure the member would enjoy that.
I am fond of a hard seltzer myself.
We were fortunate to
eventually win the support of the Nationals, primarily.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia: We were able to ensure that the
banned drinkers register has been made permanent. That is a really good measure
for reduction in the harmful use of alcohol, a measure that has now been
permanently entrenched in the laws of the state. It has rolled out across the
Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Mid-West and Gascoyne. That is a good thing.
There is another
tranche of reform coming—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia: Beyond hard seltzers, perhaps the
Leader of the Opposition might get behind the second tranche of liquor reforms
and he can make some positive contributions. I look forward to it.
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