SA venues battle lockout laws, higher licence fees

South Australia’s venues are facing a number of new and lingering issues after the state government introduced SA’s first real modernising of liquor licensing in 20 years.

The update of the Liquor Licensing Act was introduced by Consumer and Business Services Minister John Rau in Parliament late last week. It was based on 129 recommendations by former Supreme Court Justice Tim Anderson QC after a comprehensive review finalised last year.

Among the amendments that would affect live music venues are a new licensing class system (some of which would remove the obligation to provide meals for drinkers) and allowing sale of alcohol on Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Venues applying to begin would have reduced red tape. There’ll be a three-hour liquor break in trade for late night venues between the hours of 3am and 8am.

Venue owners and bar staff can now seize fake IDs used by patrons, along with police officers and licensing inspectors, while an initial plan to subject bar staff to drug and alcohol tests has been dropped after protests from venue owners.

The Australian Hotels Association SA also asked the Government to drop plans to increase liquor licence fees.

He said the Anderson Review’s recommendation for “draconian and huge fee increases based on incorrect assumptions of what constituted a high risk revenue.”

It said the Review based a venue’s risk factor on its capacity, not actual patron numbers, and trading hours, regardless of the venue’s track record.

The AHA calculated that the top 35 Adelaide venues would face a total of $150,000 extra fees. This money “could be used by venues to support local businesses and local music.”

By its estimates, The Jade Monkey would have to pay $5,000 instead of its current $2,314. HQ would go from $9033 to $38,000.

Grace Emily’s fees would rise from $771 to $2,000. The Norwood’s increase would go from $35,325 to $12,000. Crown & Spectre’s remuneration would be $5,000 from $775.

The Late Night Venue Association of SA (LNVASA) has asked for an overturn of the current statewide 3am lockout. The Anderson Review had advocated that they should remain.

The association called it “an unproven measure adopted by a nanny state government which unfairly punishes a majority of responsible, law-abiding people.”

It has long been argued that early lockouts have no impact on levels of alcohol-fuelled violence. In February, the live music sector and the city’s media reported that figures showing that assaults were being cut back were being deliberately exaggerated.

Venues are also battling plans to “name and shame” clubs and pubs who breach liquor laws. They would be on a new public register for five years

The live music sector has lashed back that this would only benefit the PR of politicians than improve the safety of patrons.

But Minister Rau says that the updated laws came after lengthy consultation with a wide range of industry and community figures.

He said, “This Bill strikes the right balance between fostering a vibrant industry for our state, supporting local businesses to thrive, and ensuring there are adequate safeguards in place to protect our community.

“We want to see new players enter the market and help grow this important part of our economy.”