Small Business

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:18): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney update the house on how the Marshall government is helping small businesses through temporary licensing measures?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:18): I thank the member for Colton for this question. As I indicated to the house yesterday, the events of Sunday, when a declaration of a major emergency was made, meant our police commissioner has been appointed under the act as the coordinator. He issued a direction on Monday, which had a direct impact on our hospitality industries, if I can broadly describe them as that.

Cafes, restaurants, small bars and local clubs are all part of that. One of the things that became very apparent as a result of that direction was that if each of the hospitality industries were able to continue to provide takeaway food and beverages for patrons, the inconsistency between perhaps hotels and restaurants and cafes became obvious; namely, the licensing arrangements for our cafes, restaurants, small bars and local clubs was different to hotels and they wouldn't be able to provide takeaway food with alcohol in these extraordinary times.

That was a matter which was exercised by commissioners of licensing around the country. They discussed the matter. Yesterday, I received a recommendation from the commissioner, Mr Dini Soulio. I agreed to it. It was executed, and this is the situation: purchases will be able to be undertaken by liquor licensing holders under a temporary licensing arrangement for two bottles of wine, or one bottle of wine and a six pack of beer, cider or premixed drinks. They will require the same stringent responsible service requirements already imposed on takeaway alcohol.

Those operating, obviously, in our very important small bar/cafe/restaurant industries are able to apply, as I say, for a free, short-term and temporary licence enabling them to sell that small amount of alcohol with takeaway meals if ordered. In addition, our community clubs will be able to sell liquor for takeaway to club members, and also will be able to sell alcohol to any member of the public purchasing a takeaway meal, but this will be limited to two bottles of wine, or a bottle of wine and the six pack as previously described.

The temporary measures will be in place for the same period that the Emergency Management Act—or, perhaps, it may return to the public health acts. However, as long as they are in place during this pandemic then that will be the time period for which the temporary measures will apply.

Obviously things are changing. But it was important that, although, for example, the hotel industry was not ever happy in the past with these other aspects of service delivery and having the capacity to be able to provide alcohol in these circumstances, I did speak to Mr Ian Horne, who is the chief executive of the Hotels Association. So, whilst they had taken that position historically, I think he understood perfectly the importance of having some equity in this small part of the market, which is now important to be able to provide a service to the community, and I thank him for his time in that regard. I also yesterday advised Clubs SA and the chief executive of Restaurant and Catering, and this morning notices went out to all of the parties that are able to apply for this benefit.

It is important that, as a government, we not only, as the Premier rightly points out, take the advice and identify the principal and primary responsibility of us to look after the health of the community but also, where we can, ensure that there is an equitable distribution of either the pain or benefit of the support that we can give to industry to ensure that we maximise employment and provide, as best we can, economic support to South Australians.