Hospitality Industry

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:00): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes that the South Australian hotel and hospitality sector has been burdened by the growing impact of crime and antisocial behaviour.

2 Recognises the following issues as evidence of longstanding policy failure in addressing a complex societal challenge:

(a) the increasing frequency and violence of organised and repeat offenders targeting bottle shops and licensed venues;

(b) the displacement, not the resolution, of criminal activity due to regional liquor restrictions; and

(c) the exposure of hospitality staff to abuse and unsafe working conditions.

3. Affirms the need for a fairer, more responsive system that supports both decent wages for workers and the sustainability of small businesses across South Australia.

4. Acknowledges the Australian Hotels Association SA (AHA SA) for its sustained and extensive engagement with authorities and significant investment in crime prevention.

5. Notes that other jurisdictions have partnered with industry to co-fund crime prevention initiatives.

6. Calls on the state government to work collaboratively with the hotel and hospitality sector, and to give due consideration to the AHA SA's proposals to develop practical, effective responses to rising crime and antisocial behaviour, and to ensure venues and staff are adequately supported and protected.

South Australia's hospitality sector is facing an escalating challenge, not from economic downturns or changing consumer habits but from a rise in crime and antisocial behaviour. Our parks, hotels and bottle shops, once places of community and celebration, are now on the frontlines of a crisis that has not been adequately addressed. This is not just a law and order issue; it is a test of whether we are willing to stand with the workers, small business owners and communities who are bearing the brunt of a broken system.

Today, I rise not just to highlight the problem but to demand action. The scale of this challenge can no longer be ignored. Every day, hospitality workers and business owners have been impacted by this crisis. As reported in Hotel SA magazine:

Our members continue to be victims in the fight against crime—but I am not convinced the high level of cooperation provided by pubs is understood, nor is it fully recognised.

This is not a problem confined to one industry. It reflects broader societal issues, generations of policy failure, rising organised crime and increasing strain on frontline workers. The hospitality sector is simply where these failures are most visible. Repeat and organised offenders are targeting bottle shops and licensed venues with alarming regularity. These are not petty thefts. As AHA SA chair David Basheer puts it, and I quote:

… is not an isolated person pilfering a sixpack. These are organised groups using intimidation and violence in a repeated and sustained manner.

Liquor restrictions, while well-intentioned, have not solved the problem. They have merely shifted it. The evidence is clear: displacement is not resolution.

Hospitality staff are now on the frontline, being abused, threatened and, in some cases, physically endangered. They face hostility when enforcing regulations and, in some instances, well-meaning patrons have had to intervene. Despite this, AHA SA and its members have not stood still. They have engaged extensively with SAPOL, CBS, the Department of Human Services and other stakeholders. They have invested heavily in crime prevention, retrofitting fridges, installing glass-fronted spirit cabinets, hiring security and deploying technology to identify offenders.

But they cannot do this alone. The AHA SA is calling for five key areas of support from government:

1. Stronger legal consequences for repeat and violent offenders, recognising these are sustained criminal acts, not minor infractions.

2. Legal tools such as exclusion orders to prevent known offenders from re-entering licensed venues.

3. Financial support for crime prevention infrastructure, because the cost of public safety should not all fall solely on private operators.

4. Consistent police resourcing across the state, not just during major events but all year round.

5. Formal recognition of the hospitality sector's role in supporting public safety and compliance.

These are not unreasonable demands: they are practical, targeted and grounded in the lived experience of those on the ground. Other jurisdictions have recognised the value of co-funded crime prevention. For example, in New South Wales the government has partnered with industry to deliver enhanced RSA training, focused on sexual violence prevention, a model that improves safety for both staff and patients. In Victoria, grants of up to $300,000 are available through the Crime Prevention Innovation Fund to support collaborative safety initiatives. This example showed that practical, effective responses are possible when government and industry work together, and South Australia's hospitality sector is ready to do its part.

The AHA SA and its members are actively seeking collaboration with the state government. Together they would like to co-design solutions that protect venues, support workers and strengthen community safety. This is not just about protecting businesses or the industry; it is about protecting our community, the workers, patrons and the broader community members. It is about safeguarding a vital part of our economy, including protecting the reputation of South Australia as a safe tourism destination.

The most comprehensive economic analysis of South Australia's hotel sector was conducted in 2016 by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies. Even then, the figures were striking: over $4 billion contributed to gross state product, more than 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs supported and nearly a billion dollars in wages paid annually. This data is nearly a decade old. Since then, the sector has only grown in importance, especially as a driver for tourism, regional development, and for community cohesion.

During major events like the 2025 AFL Gather Round the hospitality sector helped deliver record-breaking results: 93 per cent hotel occupancy; $4.3 million in nightly revenue; and over 269,000 fans attending matches across the state. These figures underscore that protecting the sector from rising crime is not just a safety issue; it is an economic imperative and a reputational consideration.

It is encouraging to see that government has taken some steps in the right direction. The introduction of mandatory bystander intervention training is a welcome step, but it addresses only one aspect of the safety challenges faced by hospitality workers, namely, harassment. It does not address the more persistent threat posed by organised crime, repeat offenders or the enforcement of liquor restrictions—issues that require coordinated legal and policy reform. Otherwise, we risk placing the burden of public safety on the shoulders of those least equipped and least empowered to carry the responsibility.

This government is quick to celebrate the success of events like LIV Golf, the Adelaide 500 and the Gather Round, each promoted as a major win for South Australia, but let's be clear: these events do not succeed because of government press releases or announcements. They succeed because of the hospitality and hotel sector backing them in. It is our hotels, pubs, restaurants and staff that carry the weight, serving the crowds, hosting the visitors and keeping our city vibrant, firing up the engine rooms of our economy. Yet, when it comes to supporting this important hotel and hospitality sector with the tools and protections it needs, the response is far less enthusiastic.

It is as if the government is happy to take the victory lap, waving the flag in the air, but not so keen to run the race and do the hard yards. Hospitality venues should be safe places for workers and patrons. Workers and community members need to be protected, respected and supported. In summary, the hospitality sector is stepping up, investing in safety, engaging with authorities and proposing practical reforms. Now it is time for the state government to meet them halfway.

I call on the Malinauskas Labor government to allocate resources to support the hotel and hospitality sector. It is not just good policy and it is not just good safety measures; it makes sense for our whole community. We must work together to ensure our venues are safe, our workers protected and our economy supported. It is time for the state government to work collaboratively with the hotel and hospitality sector and to give due consideration to AHA SA's proposal to develop practical, effective responses to rising crime and antisocial behaviour and to ensure venues and staff are adequately supported and protected. With those remarks, I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.