New packaged liquor bottle shops in Victoria will be required to apply for planning approval after a change to planning permit requirements approved by the Coalition Government last week.
Dr Sykes said that bottle shops and retail outlets selling packaged liquor will no longer be exempted from the planning process.
“The Baillieu-Ryan Government is delivering on its election commitment to require bottle shops to justify their presence in the community in the same way as other licensed premises.
“This means local councils and the community will now have an active role in deciding the location of new bottle shops.”
Dr Sykes said the operation of packaged liquor bottle shops was raised by liquor licensees with the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Michael O’Brien when he held local meetings with them in the Benalla Electorate on Thursday 31 March 2011.
“One of the concerns raised with the Minister at these meetings was the need for package liquor outlets to be more accountable for excess purchases and consumption for the benefit of community health and safety.
“Liquor licensees said they were expected to sell and supply alcohol responsibly and that packaged liquor outlets must do the same, including pricing and hours of operation.”
Dr Sykes said the Coalition’s actions on giving communities a say about new packaged liquor outlets in their local area should help address some of these concerns.
Under the former Labor Government, local communities were shut out of the planning process because bottle shops were exempt from planning laws.
“Labor even ignored a recommendation from its own Liquor Control Advisory Council, which told the former government in March 2008 that the planning exemption for bottle shops should be scrapped.”
The Baillieu-Ryan Government’s new permit requirement will be supported with guidelines to help councils assess the cumulative impact of bottle shops in a local community.
The new guidelines will also be able to be used to help councils assess the impact of other licensed premises within a locality.
“The Coalition’s actions bring to an end the era of bottle shops being allowed to set up in inappropriate locations with no regard to the views of families living nearby.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “Victorian families will now have the opportunity to comment to their local council under planning laws if they are concerned about the impact or appropriateness of a new bottle shop opening in their local area.”

The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Michael O’Brien held consultative meetings at the Euroa Hotel, Thoona Hotel and Happy Valley Hotel, Ovens on Thursday 31 March with liquor licensees from North East Victoria to discuss improvements to Victoria’s licensing regime for country hotels, low volume liquor outlets and seasonal traders.
Minister O’Brien said he appreciated the invitation from the Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes to consult with local business operators on how to address existing disadvantages in the liquor licence risk based fee structure which were introduced by the former Brumby Government.
Licensees from Thornton, Mansfield, Longwood, Undera, Violet Town, Devenish, Boho South, Benalla, Tungamah, Tawonga South, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Myrtleford attended the meetings.
Dr Sykes said, “Country hotels, low volume liquor outlets and seasonal traders remain disadvantaged by massive liquor licence fee increases introduced by the previous government.
“The Baillieu-Ryan Government is listening to the concerns of licensees so that we can continue to deliver for these businesses throughout North East Victoria.”
Minister O’Brien said that in opposition the Liberal Nationals had opposed changes to how renewal fees were calculated because they meant many low risk based businesses were unfairly penalised with massive renewal fee increases.
The Baillieu-Ryan Government has already dramatically reduced unfair liquor licence fees for community clubs and plans to introduce a five star rating system for licensees. This system will mean that licensees with good records will have licence fees reduced whereas those with infringements will incur increased fees.
Dr Sykes has been fighting for amendments to be made to the licensing regime on behalf of businesses in his Electorate for more than 18 months.
“At last we have a Minister who is willing to discuss these issues in person and listen to proposals from licensees on how to implement positive change.”
One of the suggestions put by local licensees was the provision to have a 12 midnight licence option at a reduced fee compared with the current choices of 11pm and 1am. The Minister is going to investigate this option.
The Minister said that under a Liberal Nationals Government the Liquor Licensing Commission team will take a more proactive approach in its dealings with liquor licensees including checks to ensure they have the most appropriate licence for their business. This may result in significant fee reductions in many cases.
He said licensees and police would be encouraged to work together to develop and implement a liquor licence accord, and made reference to existing successful accords operating in Mansfield and Wangaratta.
In addition the Baillieu-Ryan Government has introduced legislation to give licensees increased power to tackle antisocial behaviour in and around licensed venues and increased penalties for drunken, loutish and threatening behaviour.
Dr Sykes concluded, “I look forward to Minister O’Brien taking on board local licensees suggestions and coming up with a more fair risk based liquor licence fee structure. I will keep on the case.”

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said today that the Liberal Nationals Coalition Government has announced changes to liquor licensing fees to help ease the burden on over 10,000 Victorian small businesses and community groups that pose a low risk in relation to alcohol-related violence.
Dr Sykes said that this is a positive step toward moving to a true risk based fee structure.
The base renewal fee has been reduced for the following categories:
• Full club (without gaming machines);
• Restricted club;
• Vignerons;
• Restaurant and café;
• Renewable limited; and
• BYO permits.

“The reductions will benefit regional venues which have been hit with steep increases in annual fees implemented under a Brumby Government.
“Restaurants and cafes including BYO, vignerons, limited and restricted clubs licensees, who would have been paying over $400 will now pay a base renewal fee of just $200.
“Full club licensees without gaming, will now pay just $400 instead of the $800 imposed by the Brumby Government.
“The Liberal Nationals Coalition believes that the former Labor Government’s increases in licensing fees have caused a significant and unnecessary financial burden on community clubs and businesses who pose a low risk in relation to alcohol related violence.
“I along with my Liberal Nationals opposition colleagues and liquor licensees lobbied extensively the Brumby Government in 2009 and 2010 and as a result a number of changes were implemented. This included the removal of licence fees for B&B’s, florists and giftmaker businesses and a new Producer’s Licence for brewers and wineries.
“The Coalition Government recognises that these changes did not go far enough and has therefore taken action to reduce the licensing fee burden for many businesses and community based clubs.”
Dr Sykes said that the Coalition Government will also review fees for packaged liquor licences to address any anomalies that see all packaged liquor outlets charged the same fee regardless of their size.
“Small country pubs however continue to bear the burden of increased fees and I will continue to lobby on their behalf for a reduction in liquor licence renewal fees.”
Licensees can seek to reduce renewal fees by applying to reduce their patron numbers or trading hours.
Invoices were issued to licensees at the start of January and must be paid prior to March 31, 2011.
Licensees who continue to supply liquor after this date and who have not paid their renewal fee will be doing so illegally.
In certain circumstances, such as hardship applications, the Director of Liquor Licensing has the power to waive or reduce licence fees. These applications must be received by Liquor Licensing by 15 February 2011. Applicants should be aware that they will be required to submit certain financial information and provide a reason why they are seeking relief for payment of full fees.
Licensees were sent a letter in December to explain the new fees and the due date, which has been extended to accommodate the changes.
For information on liquor licensing fees and application forms go to www.justice.vic.gov/alcohol.

 Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes will lead a deputation of liquor licensees to meet with the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tony Robinson on Thursday 27 May at Parliament House.
“The Minister needs to hear first hand how the new liquor licensing laws have hurt country liquor licensees and of the impact the fee increases continue to have on their businesses.
“It is important that the Minister does not put his hands behind his back in the belief that no further action is required on addressing short comings with the new risk based fee structure,” Dr Sykes said.
Jo Bowers, who runs the Happy Valley Hotel in Ovens with her husband Michael, will be part of the deputation. The hotel has copped a fee increase of over 300% and was refused a hardship provision because 1% of the annual turnover was greater than the $2385 fee.
“The impact on the business is a reduction in the level of support the hotel can provide to local community organisations as well as a reduction in casual staff.
“This in turn means that Jo and her husband have to work even longer hours to make up staffing shortfalls,” Dr Sykes said.
Owner of the Howqua Valley Caravan Park near Mansfield, Sandra Duell, who will also meet with the Minister, has expressed her outrage that the park’s licensed bottle shop has had to reduce operating hours in order to reduce its liquor licence fee.
“Their liquor license fee would have been over $6000 otherwise,” Dr Sykes said. “Extended operating hours, including Good Friday, were part of the service provided by the caravan park so that guests could purchase drinks without having to get in a car and drive.”
Faith Russo, who operates Smoko’s Big Shed Café near Bright, had to cancel the existing liquor licence due to the massive fee hike and reapply for one which restricts the serving of alcohol.
“Faith was also frustrated by a lack of timely response from the Director of Liquor Licensing.”
Dr Sykes said the stories of these hard working business people needed to be heard first hand by the Minister.
“I have repeatedly lobbied the Minister to get him to commit the time to meet with liquor licensees from the north-east. I hope that as an outcome of the deputation the Minister will undertake an urgent and honest appraisal of the liquor licence fee risk based structure.”

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, said today that many liquor licensees throughout the Benalla Electorate have been treated with contempt by the Brumby Government.
Dr Sykes said, “Many licensees, who were encouraged by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, to apply for a fee waiver or reduction through a Hardship Provision, have had their applications rejected and been given no other choice but to pay the massive liquor licence fee hike.
“Some licensees have told me that they received no written notification that their hardship applications had been rejected.
“One publican, concerned about losing their liquor licence, rang the Office of Liquor Licensing to follow up on their application only to find out that the letter had gone to the wrong address.
“Another publican, who wrote to the Office of Liquor Licensing in February to appeal the rejection of their hardship provision, is still waiting for a written response.
“This raises a concern that some licensees, waiting on a response from their enquiries, may be at risk of losing their liquor licence because they have delayed payment of their fees until they have received a reply in writing.
“This is a disgraceful state of affairs and one which could put people’s livelihood’s at risk,” Dr Sykes said.
Dr Sykes said that what appears to be a massive backlog at the Office of Liquor Licensing in addressing the concerns raised by liquor licensees has caused further confusion and distress amongst business operators who are simply trying to make an honest living.
“I encourage anyone who has not received written notification of the success or rejection of hardship applications or are still waiting on a written response to any letters of appeal to phone the Office of Liquor Licensing directly and request an immediate written response.
“In February I led a deputation of liquor licensees to discuss the liquor licence fee hikes with the Minister for Consumer Affairs. I intend to initiate another deputation of liquor licensees to meet with the Minister on the 27th of May,” Dr Sykes said.
“The Minister needs to realise that the massive hike in liquor licence fees has hurt country pubs, tourism operators, small business and not-for-profit organisations.”