The Gaming and Liquor Administration Amendment Bill 2015 will allow a vital restructure of the Office of Liquor and Gaming and the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) to better support the NSW Government’s tough liquor laws.
A new regulator called Liquor and Gaming NSW will be created. The regulator will be given a 20 per cent boost in compliance capacity, have an increased focus on enforcement activity and take charge of low-risk licence applications.
The ILGA will remain independent and refocus on high-risk licence applications such as new bottle shops or nightclubs. All casino licensing and gaming machine entitlement decisions will also remain with the ILGA.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice Troy Grant said one of the biggest benefits to the community is a new avenue of appeal against licence decisions.
"In line with the planning system, community members affected by licensing decisions will be able to appeal decisions made by Liquor and Gaming NSW and the ILGA on merit, through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal," Mr Grant said.
"Under the current arrangements these decisions can only be appealed on the administration of law in the Supreme Court, making it virtually impossible for the community to challenge a decision.
"It was disappointing opponents to the Bill didn’t get across the legislation and were confused in their public statements against the changes, misleading the community.
"I would like to thank Reverend Fred Nile and Paul Green from the Christian Democratic Party and the Robert Borsak and Robert Brown from the Shooters and Fishers Party for supporting this important legislation."
The NSW Government has introduced the country's toughest liquor laws. This year, two people were banned from holding a liquor licence for life and a country pub and two bottles shops were temporarily shut for serving minors.
