Australia: Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation funding cut
Brisbanetimes.com.au
By Amy Remeikis
July 21, 2016
The government that introduced the state’s toughest alcohol-fuelled violence laws has cut funding for the body charged with ensuring licensed venues adhere to those laws.
In response to a question on notice ahead of her portfolio’s budget estimate hearing on Thursday, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath admitted that last year, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation had been allocated $3.33 million “to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence in and around licensed premises”, a figure which had been cut to $3.09 million in this financial year, when the government’s new last-drinks and lockout laws come into effect.
The complete budget for the OLGR, which polices licensed venues, has been cut over the forwards, with the body to receive $33.078 million this year, $32.991 million in the next and $31.963 million in 2018-19, which the department reports “largely reflects the finalisation of the three-year additional funding for the tackling alcohol-fuelled violence initiative”.
“This coincides with the completion of the review of the initiative which will inform government on future policy making and resource allocations,” Ms D’Ath’s department noted.
Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Jarrod Bleijie, who will face off against Ms D’Ath at the committee hearing, said the funding decrease was “a massive oversight”, given the government’s crackdown on licensed venues’ trading hours and conditions.
“Why is a government supposedly so committed to tackling alcohol-fuelled violence cutting the budget of the chief regulatory authority,” he said.
“Less money to the Office of Liquor and Gaming will mean they will have fewer resources to police Labor’s new laws.
“… Labor’s lockout laws are already punishing the majority for the sins of a few, and at the same time they’re slashing the budget for regulation and compliance.”
Labor has faced prolonged criticism from the industry and the LNP over its legislation, which saw a ban on rapid consumption alcoholic drinks from midnight and last drinks from 2am introduced earlier this month and will see earlier lockouts introduced from February next year.
But the government said its policy was evidence based, pointing to the “Newcastle solution” as one example of success. A review has been built into the legislation.
While Police Minister Bill Byrne said late last month he was keeping “an open mind” as to whether the lockout component of the laws would need to be introduced if the restriction on alcohol training brought dividends in the form of less violence and alcohol induced injuries, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed her government was still committed to the policy when questioned on the issue earlier this week.
Queensland’s budget estimate hearings will continue into next week. Both Ms D’Ath and Mr Byrne are scheduled to appear on Thursday.