Liquor Licensing

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Business Services and Consumers a question about liquor licensing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I understand that Consumer and Business Services has undertaken a review of the limited licence application process to identify improvements and efficiencies. Can the minister please update the chamber on the status of the Consumer and Business Services review of the limited licence application process and the expected benefits that it will provide the government and community?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am advised that Consumer and Business Services (CBS) receives, processes and grants approximately 10,000 limited licence applications annually. I am pleased to advise members that the limited licence application process was reviewed to identify improvements and efficiencies to benefit both CBS and applicants.

CBS assesses limited licence applications for medium to large events held at a single venue, such as a food and wine festival with a number of stalls representing different wineries in one area. Previously, CBS required each participating stallholder or winery to lodge an individual application to serve or supply liquor for that one event at the same venue. The applications were processed individually and a single licence granted for the event listing all the applicants as licensees.

I am advised that CBS licences approximately 50 of these events a year, and of course we know that these events are very important to the vibrancy of South Australia and particularly our CBD, with an average of 15 applications per event. I understand that larger events may have up to 100 individual applications lodged. The Convention Centre regularly hosts things such as a wine festival over three days where over 200 wineries participate. In the past, each has been required to lodge a separate application.

As a result of the CBS review of the limited licence application process, only one application listing all participants as applicants is now required and it is processed as one application and a single licence is granted. The new process cuts red tape for event organisers and creates significant internal efficiencies for CBS. This is another smart initiative by CBS, underpinning its mindset of looking at existing practices and procedures and asking if they can be improved.

CBS's ongoing business improvement has seen some fantastic outcomes over the past year or so, and I commend all the hard work undertaken by CBS staff to achieve these outcomes. On 30 October the liquor licensing regulations were amended to introduce a new fee structure for limited licence applications with multiple applicants, reflecting the internal efficiencies that the new process delivered.

Previously, I am advised, each participating stallholder was required to lodge an individual limited licence application for the same event and pay a prescribed fee of $77 per application. The amended regulations have introduced a tiered fee structure, offering a discounted fee where there are multiple applications for the same venue, not to mention that, in the opinion of the licensing authority, if the limited licence is for an event to be held for charitable community purposes, an application fee is not required.

I am advised that CBS implemented the new process earlier this year to ensure a reduction in red tape and internal efficiencies, and I understand that throughout the early transitional stage there is a new process. Up to 30 October applicants were only charged a single $77 fee, regardless of the number of participants, due to the framework being established. The changes, which introduced the tiered system, now more accurately reflect the time and resources required. It is a great initiative. We see that it not only cuts down the red tape for applicants but also provides a considerable reduction in the cost of the fee on many occasions.