Page 1750 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017
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raised by industry stakeholders during the consultations as a way of preventing people who are intoxicated from continuing to cause trouble near their venues. These people can present a danger to themselves and to others and this measure provides protection for nearby patrons, staff and security personnel. Another important measure is the amendment to the definition of “intoxication” to include “intoxication from drugs”. This provision allows venues to refuse service to patrons who are intoxicated because of the consumption of drugs or alcohol or both. We know that many night-time patrons are using recreational drugs and so it is important that our laws reflect this reality.
The bill also clarifies the conditions that the Commissioner for Fair Trading can impose on a licence in response to risky or harmful incidents. The commissioner’s power to discontinue offensive or dangerous promotional activities is an important way to encourage a positive night-life environment. Similarly, the attorney’s power to declare prohibited alcohol products is a key mechanism for ensuring liquor products meet standards that encourage responsible behaviour and do not feed into a culture of violence or alcohol abuse.
At the same time, the bill includes a number of red tape reductions which will help to create a more diverse and vibrant night-life in Canberra. The recognition of interstate responsible service of alcohol qualifications is a sensible measure that ensures people do not have to redo their RSA training when they have already completed it elsewhere. This measure recognises that Canberra has many people who come from interstate, and we want to encourage those people to work in licensed venues if they are appropriately qualified. Equally, we want to encourage venues to employ staff with RSA qualifications and not make that process overly burdensome.
I also support the removal of the requirement for complaints to be made in writing. It is important that members of the community feel able to raise concerns about venues or products with the Commissioner for Fair Trading without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. This measure will reduce regulation whilst also improving the safety of Canberra’s night-time economy. As I said previously, the Greens are supporting these measures because they will contribute to reducing harm whilst also increasing the vibrancy of our night-life. I see these measures as just the first step and I hope the government is committed to continuing to work with the industry, health groups and the community on additional measures to address this important issue.
There are a number of areas where the Greens would support further action to address alcohol related harm, following serious community consultation. One key area is the expansion of the risk based licensing approach which was put into place through the Liquor Act reforms in 2010. In the ACT we currently calculate and set liquor licensing fees according to venue type, occupancy and trading hours. We support risk based licensing because it ensures that venues with greater numbers of risk factors contribute more to the costs of preventing and intervening in alcohol related violence.
The evidence also shows that this approach has not had a detrimental effect on Canberra’s night-time economy, with an increase in the number of liquor licences in the ACT since it was introduced. The Greens support further work to consider how the risk based licensing scheme could be expanded. For example, licence fees could
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