Liquor Licensing Laws

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:51): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General update the house on what measures are being taken to prevent under 18 year olds and barred patrons from gaining access to licensed venues?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:51): I thank the member for her question and her valuable work as a minister in respect to dealing with the scourge of domestic violence. As part of the review of South Australia's liquor licensing laws, Mr Tim Anderson QC made 129 recommendations. With respect to the liquor licensing barring system, he recommended the introduction of a web-based notification system or portal for licensees, SAPOL and CBS to collectively manage this issue. South Australia is proposing that this system be in the form of an over-18 and barring notification app.

Such technology is already in use in the Sydney King's Cross entertainment precinct. Mr Anderson found that it enabled greater detection of fake identifications and was a better method of identifying those who were attempting to breach barring orders. As part of this app's development, South Australia has sought funding from the commonwealth under the Small Business Regulatory Reform Agreement, which was signed by Treasurer Rob Lucas in April this year. The deliverables for this project will soon be established between us and the commonwealth.

It is the intention that the app will allow patrons to sign up to the mySA GOV account to scan their digital licence for the purpose of confirming their age and whether they are the subject of a barring order. It would also allow for the scanning of physical driver's licences. This initiative will lower costs and simplify the processes for business by reducing the cost of lodging barring notifications. Clearly, it will also result in a reduction in underage drinking in venues.

In addition, stage 2 of the Anderson reforms will be coming into effect next Monday. Stage 2 introduces a new offence in relation to the sale and delivery of liquor to minors through direct sales transactions as well as an increase in penalties for some offences. The Liquor and Gambling Commissioner will also have the power to direct a designated person to undertake specific training.

I wish to place on record my appreciation to Mr Tim Anderson for the work that he undertook in preparing the recommendations for the then former government and to the former attorney-general for bringing to the parliament—belatedly, but nevertheless, brought to the parliament—some of those reforms. These are the result of some of those initiatives, and we welcome them.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!