Lodging objections
Gaming applications
Objections to applications for a gaming licence can be lodged within certain guidelines. Click here for guidelines on making community comment.
Liquor applications
All applications for a new liquor licence or applications for a significant change to an existing licensed premises are subject to a public consultation process. During this process, a person or organisation may wish to lodge an objection to an application.
Grounds for objection
Objections can only be made if the granting of a licence or application would:
- be likely to cause undue offence, annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience to persons living, working or doing business in the area, or to persons travelling to or from an existing or proposed place of public worship, hospital or school or
- be likely to lessen the amenity, quiet or good order of the locality in some way.
Please note, objections are not confidential and copies will be given to the applicant. This provides the applicant with the opportunity to respond to any concerns during the objections conference.
For objections relating to Adult Entertainment permits (AEP) see section below.
Who can lodge an objection?
Objections can be lodged by anyone over the age of 18, either individually or as a group by way of petition.
To lodge an objection you must have:
- a proper interest in the area (for example, you may be a resident in the area, have a child in a school in the area or own a rental property or business) AND
- be likely to be affected by the approval of the licence/permit.
Format for objections
When lodging an objection you must clearly state the grounds for your objection (see above section on grounds for objections).
Objections can be a:
- petition (refer below for more details)
- letter with supporting documentation
- any other written form.
Objections must be in writing and submitted within the advertised timeframes for objections. It is important to note that objections received before the advertising period or after the closing date are invalid.
What is a valid objection?
Objections need to be about a direct impact on the objector relating to:
- undue offence
- annoyance
- disturbance or inconvenience to persons living, working or doing business in the area
- disturbance or inconvenience to persons travelling to or from an existing or proposed place of public worship, hospital or school
- the amenity, quiet or good order of the locality would be lessened in some way.
Objectors must be careful not to confuse general public interest issues with the direct impact upon them. Public interest submissions can be made - refer to information below.
What happens if an objection is invalid?
If an objection is invalid it may not be considered in the decision to grant or refuse the application.
Invalid objectors will have no rights to:
- appeal at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
- participate in the objectors conference.
What happens when objections are received?
All objections go to the licence applicant. The applicant then has a chance to consider the objections and may choose to alter their application or negotiate with the objectors.
If objections are received, an objections conference may be held and is an opportunity for the objector/s and the applicant to get together and informally discuss any concerns. To read more about the objections conference process, please see the Objections Conference fact sheet.
The Chief Executive will consider the objections when deciding whether the application should be granted.
Anyone who was party to a decision has the right to appeal that decision to the independent Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, including the applicant and valid objectors. This means that either the objector or the applicant has the right to appeal.
Timeframes
A new licence application will be publicly advertised. The public then has 28 days to submit a valid objection. The objections will then be processed and considered.
OLGR 's processing times may vary due to a number of issues, including the number of objections received, the nature of the objections and the applicant's right to respond to objections.
Objections to Adult Entertainment Permits (AEP)
Objections to AEPs can only be made if:
- the granting of a licence or application would be likely to cause annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience to persons living, working or doing business in the area, or to persons travelling to or from an existing or proposed place of public worship, hospital or school or other facility or place regularly frequented by children for cultural or recreational activities is likely to happen or
- if the amenity, quiet or good order of the locality would be lessened in some way.
Refer to the Adult Entertainment page.
Petitions
Objections lodged in the form of a petition will be disregarded unless it conforms to the specified format:
- Each sheet of the petition must have an identical heading clearly stating:
- the name of the head petitioner (this is the person with whom all contact between the Chief Executive and the signatories to the petition will be made)
- the contact number of the head petitioner
- name of the premises that the petitioners are objecting to
- reason/s for the objection.
- Each signatory must add particulars of his or her connection with the locality to which the application relates. For example, advise whether you reside, work or do business in the area.
Download the petition template.
Public interest submissions
A member of the public may also make a separate written submission to the Chief Executive as to whether the liquor licence is in the public interest in the locality to which the application relates.
However, the lodgement of a public interest submission does not provide you with a right of appeal to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. You have merely provided information for the Chief Executive to consider.
For more information on lodging an objection or a public interest submission, telephone 13 QGOV (13 74 86).
Last reviewed 4 August 2011