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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-16 Daily Xml
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Liquor Licensing

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence in the other place, questions regarding the government's commitment to liquor licensing reforms.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Mr President, I might redirect that question to the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C. BONAROS: In any event, the question is there for the taking from anyone who wants to answer it in government.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter; he always has something to say!

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I think the Hon. Mr Hunter would love to answer this question. Through you, Mr President—and to you, Mr Hunter—alcohol is one of the most significant drivers—on a very, very serious note—of domestic, family and sexual violence and this government has repeatedly said that it recognises that fact.

Following the rapid review of prevention approaches in 2024 and the national cabinet commitments that followed, the government pledged to lead the nation in reforming our liquor laws to better protect women and children. In December last year, it released a draft Liquor Licensing (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill proposing reforms to recognise gendered violence in the act's objects, restrict late night alcohol delivery and introduce a two-hour safety delay for online sales.

Those measures were, of course, later endorsed by the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence—recommendation 128—which called for their urgent passage. Advocates, including FARE, SACOSS, Embolden and SANDA, which have worked closely with survivors, are urging the government to honour its own commitments.

It has been 10 months since these commitments were made. There are a couple of sitting weeks left and there has still been no bill introduced in this place. My questions therefore, to anyone in government who cares to answer them, are:

1. With only two sitting weeks remaining, when will the Liquor Licensing (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill be introduced to parliament?

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: It's three weeks.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Three weeks—two, three, a handful of sitting days left. When will the Liquor Licensing (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill be likely to be introduced into this place?

2. Has cabinet approved the bill for introduction?

3. What is holding up the introduction of the bill?

4. Is the minister willing to give a guarantee that this bill will be tabled before parliament rises, as survivors and stakeholders were promised?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for her question. Technically, this falls within the purview of Minister Andrea Michaels as the Minister for Consumer Affairs, represented by the Hon. Clare Scriven in this place, but there are quite a few of the recommendations of the royal commission that relate to things that were within the broader Attorney-General's portfolio.

I don't have details on those. Of course, the honourable member will be well aware we wouldn't discuss our cabinet deliberations in answer to questions, but I am happy to take those on notice and bring back a reply. I do note that the Premier has committed that there will be responses to recommendations of the royal commission, as the honourable member has pointed out. There were elements of her question that were recommendations within the royal commission. I am happy to take it on notice and bring back a reply for the honourable member.

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