'A SAFER NIGHT OUT'

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:25): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Today, I have released a discussion paper, entitled 'A Safer Night Out', which details proposed changes to the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 to strengthen measures promoting the responsible service of alcohol in and around licensed premises, particularly in our entertainment precincts. At a national level, we are helping to develop strategies to promote safer and healthier drinking behaviours, and at a state level we are looking at liquor licensing issues which have an impact on our community.

Like our licensing laws, South Australia's entertainment areas have evolved and changed over time, resulting in 24-hour trading in our pubs and clubs in some circumstances, attracting patrons who gather in areas where these venues operate. We all know that drinking too much can create problems. Also, recent media attention has increased public concern about loutish and antisocial behaviour in our entertainment areas.

The paper I have released for public consultation includes a range of measures that give us the tools to better regulate and manage late-night trading, where police tell us alcohol-fuelled violence is most likely to occur. The proposals include several new important controls which give powers to our commissioners to take immediate action. These controls would: empower the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner to order the immediate temporary suspension of a licence in response to urgent safety matters; allow the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner to impose conditions on a licence, such as a lockout on one or a group of licensed premises in an area; and extend the powers of the Police Commissioner to temporarily shut down venues in an emergency.

Compliance is a vital part of keeping licensed venues safe for people enjoying a night out. I am also proposing an annual licence fee system for our pubs, clubs and licensed premises to go towards compliance. For most venues, this will be a modest amount, and those who choose to operate extended hours will incur an additional fee.

To balance the needs of a vibrant international city which provides a safe and fun environment for people to enjoy themselves is obviously a challenge. SAPOL has identified a link between extended late-night licensed trading hours and alcohol-fuelled violence. Mandating a compulsory shutdown of three hours for premises such as pubs and nightclubs trading late at night, as we propose in the paper, interrupts drinking behaviour and creates a clear break between night and daytime activity, which enables the area to be cleaned and revitalised as intoxicated people disperse from the area.

All licensees are required to adhere to a mandatory code of practice to minimise the harmful and hazardous use of liquor and promote the responsible sale, supply and consumption of liquor. Changes to the Liquor Licensing Act last year have paved the way to now update and improve the code. To complement the reforms I have already outlined, a discussion paper putting forward new measures in the code of practice is also being released at the same time.

Proposed changes to the draft code include measures such as mandating the training of staff and regulating to ensure responsible drinking practices. If adopted, the new code would allow the Commissioner of Liquor and Gambling to use his discretion to act where antisocial behaviour occurs in licensed venues. The commissioner can choose to apply measures such as increased security requirements or banning the use of glass in venues where it may be considered a problem.

This package of proposed initiatives will provide us with the means to both rein in unsavoury or irresponsible behaviour and encourage and foster safer entertainment areas. We think these measures provide a balance between promoting individual responsibility and safe business practices without sacrificing the vibrancy of our entertainment areas. Public comment is being sought on the discussion paper, with the closing date for submissions being Friday 3 September 2010.