SA Government releases Liquor licensing discussion paper

The Attorney-General’s Department has released a discussion paper inviting public submissions on liquor licensing laws in South Australia, after almost 20 years since the last comprehensive review in this area.
 
The discussion paper suggests a wide range of possible reforms to liquor licensing and notes that the proposed planning reforms (in the recent Planning, Development and Infrastructure Bill 2015) present a “prime opportunity” to streamline development approval and liquor licensing processes.
 
Amongst the suggested reforms are the removal of multiple planning and licensing applications for the same venue, amending the “needs test” for hotel and retail liquor merchant licenses and a reconsideration of the appropriate extent of community consultation in the liquor licensing process generally.
 
A copy of the discussion paper is available at:  http://www.agd.sa.gov.au/initiatives/liquor-licensing-discussion-paper.
 
The period for submissions on the discussion paper will close at 5pm on Friday 29 January 2016. For further information please contact James Levinson or Tom Crompton on 8212 9777.