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Applications for new liquor licences

To sell or supply liquor on a permanent basis you must have a liquor licence. Your application for a new licence must include:

Check out the liquor licence types page to find out more about which licence suits your needs.

Mandatory training

Additional information

For more information on applying for a liquor licence in Queensland, download the applying for a liquor licence fact sheet.

Guidelines for new licences
Guideline 16: Control of entertainment noise

Guideline 26: Standard of premises 

For more information on what type of licence is appropriate for your needs, refer to licence types.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) requirements

In considering the standard of a premises, OLGR will require evidence by way of a Notification of Compliance from QFRS that the premises has complied with the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990 and Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008.

To assist applicants and owners of premises that is subject to a liquor licence application in understanding their obligations to ensure the safety of any person in that building in the event of a fire or other emergency please refer to the advisory notes located on the QFRS website.

Processing an application for a new liquor licence

An advertising period of 28 days is usually required for licence applications. For more information refer to advertising.

If you are applying as an individual, you will be required to attend mandatory responsible service of alcohol training (RSA) and responsible management of licensed venues training (RMLV) unless you have completed the courses within the past three years.

Applications for new licences take at least three to four months to process, or longer if there are public objections. A conference may be held to hear any objections or submissions.

Lodgement of the application is no guarantee that the licence will be granted.

Objecting to an application for a new liquor licence

Objections to applications may be made by adults, either individually or as a signatory to a petition. People may lodge objections if they consider that granting the application would unduly disturb or inconvenience them in living, working or doing business in the area, or travelling to or from places of public worship, hospitals or schools (existing or proposed).

If objections are lodged, a conference (which is not open to the public) may be held.

The Chief Executive must also advise the local authority (local council) and Assistant Police Commissioner for the locality about the application. The Chief Executive must consider their comments relating to the reasonable requirements or the amenity of the locality.

Download the objecting to a liquor licence application fact sheet.

Decision to grant a new liquor licence

The Chief Executive will make a decision after considering:

The decision may be to grant your application, refuse it, or grant it subject to conditions. If your venue is not complete and ready to trade, your application may be provisionally granted subject to completion, and trading may not commence until it has been satisfactorily completed and inspected by OLGR, and the licence has been issued.

If the licence is refused, you may lodge a request for a review with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Similarly, if the application is granted an objector may request a review of the decision. Any request for a review must be lodged with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal within 28 days of receiving written notification of the decision.

Licensee absences

Different requirements apply for absences from premises under the Liquor Act 1992 and Wine Industry Act 1994.

Under the Liquor Act, if the licensee is going to be absent from the premises without the presence of an approved manager, approval must first be obtained from the Chief Executive and set criteria apply. A notification of absence from licensed premises  form must be completed and lodged with OLGR. There is no fee for this application.

Under the Wine Industry Act, if the licensee or nominee is going to be absent from the premises for more than 28 days, a letter notifying of their absence from the licensed premises must be forwarded to OLGR. No fee is required.

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) was established on 1 December 2009 to hear and determine appeals against decisions made under the Liquor Act.

QCAT is an independent decision-making body that provides an informal, quick, efficient and less expensive form of merits review for liquor licensing matters than what is available under a court system.

The tribunal is also given jurisdiction by the Wine Industry Act to hear and determine reviews against decisions made under that Act.

The Liquor Act and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 give jurisdiction to the tribunal to hear and determine reviews against decisions under the Act including in particular, ‘the grant, refusal, cancellation, suspension or surrender of a licence or permit’.

For more information on QCAT and to view past decisions, visit the QCAT website or phone 1300 753 228.

Sale of liquor from premises that also sell petrol

If you have applied for a liquor licence that would allow the sale of liquor within the same complex as the sale of petrol, or in an adjoining complex, you will be requested to complete the site questionnaire form.

This will help establish the correlation between the sale of liquor and petrol, and determine if special consideration must be given to the application.

For more information, download the guideline on sale of liquor from premises that also sell petrol.

Last reviewed 9 August 2011