LIQUOR LICENSING

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs. Does the minister support a proposal from the Australian Association of Convenience Stores to the Productivity Commission to sell alcohol at its premises?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:43): I believe that the honourable member is referring to a submission that has gone to the Productivity Commission submitted by a group that represents convenience stores which includes service stations, the 7-Eleven's and suchlike, plus a range of other retail outlets.

I have had a look at the submission very briefly. The submission does not go into a great deal of detail around the issues of concern around liquor licensing, and it is a very curious submission given that here in South Australia retail outlets are already able to apply for a liquor licence and if they meet certain conditions—and part of that may be a public need test and a public interest test—then they are able to achieve a liquor licence.

In terms of how long they can trade for, they have access to that. There are standard trading hours that come with a liquor licence, depending on the type of venue, and if venues seek to extend that then there is the ability to make an application for a licence extension, right up to 24 hours, as we well know, not that there are many of those.

I am not too sure exactly what the issues are. As I said, their application does not go into any detail of the issues that they see as being barriers to the current provisions, given that, as I said, here in South Australia liquor retail outlets already have access to the provision of being able to apply for a liquor licence. So long as they pass all of the tests and the standards that have been put in place they can be granted a licence. That is my understanding, anyway.