Parliamentary inquiry into alcohol-related violence
The Queensland Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related harm in Queensland.
In 2009 Premier Anna Bligh initiated a parliamentary inquiry into alcohol-related violence, which was conducted by the Parliamentary Law, Justice and Safety Committee. The committee released its final report in March 2010.
The Queensland Government consulted widely with community and industry on the committee's 68 recommendations, before tabling a response in Parliament on 27 August 2010.
Read the Queensland Government's response to the inquiry.
Liquor and Other Legislation Amendment Bill
Powers to ban people from licensed premises and areas around these premises came into force in December 2010.
The powers are part of a range of initiatives the government introduced in response to recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into alcohol-related violence.
The government's response is aimed at reducing the incidence and impacts—both social and economic—of alcohol-related violence in Queensland by implementing:
- Drink Safe Precincts
- banning legislation
- expansion of the responsibilities of the existing Queensland Gaming Commission
- a new main purpose for the Liquor Act
- free water.
A central component of the government's response to alcohol-related violence is a place-based management approach that is being piloted in three areas: Surfers Paradise, Fortitude Valley and Townsville. The two year pilot commenced in December 2010.
The pilot drink safe precincts use the combined resources of state and local government agencies, as well as industry and community organisations to deliver coordinated plans adapted to local contexts. The approach includes enhanced, targeted and flexible police responses; improved transport information and traffic control, addressing issues such as crowding and footpath queuing; and better on-the-ground coordination between community groups, security, police and licensees.
Drink Safe Precinct committees made up of local representatives operate in each location.
Drink safe precinct map – Surfers Paradise (PDF 505 K)
Drink safe precinct map – Fortitude Valley (PDF 490 K)
Drink safe precinct map – Townsville (PDF 515 K)
For an exact delineation of the drink safe precinct maps, refer to the Liquor Regulation 2002.
Reporting on the trials
The Queensland Government will report on the drink safe precinct pilot, before completing a full evaluation after the full two years.
Regular snapshots of information, including a range of statistics, are available on the Drink Safe Precincts trials page:
Surveys
Surveys of the people who visit and work within the drink safe precincts will help to measure whether the trial is effective in reducing alcohol-related violence in and around licensed venues, and also help to inform local-level decision making throughout the trial.
Read more about the surveys:
Legislative changes provide courts with powers to ban people from specified licensed premises or specified areas around licensed premises. The changes were rolled out in December 2010. Amendments were made to the:
Amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 created banning orders as a sentencing option for offences relating to violence in, or in the vicinity of, licensed premises and under the Bail Act 1980 as a condition of bail. The court or a police officer is required to consider attaching such a condition to bail in certain circumstances. Changes to the Liquor Act enable courts to impose civil banning orders in drink safe precincts, as a result of acts of violence in a precinct.
Court banning powers are just one component of the government's commitment to reducing alcohol-related violence in Queensland and build on a licensee's existing rights regarding venue entry. The court-issued banning orders can be for up to 12 months duration, or longer if attached to a sentence for a criminal offence, and can apply inside and outside of venues.
There are significant penalties for persons found to contravene a banning order and any breach of a ban made through bail conditions may also have serious consequences for the individual, including having their bail revoked. Penalties include a fine of up to $4000 or up to 1 year imprisonment.
Court-ordered patron bans are in addition to methods licensees and police have traditionally used to deal with patrons demonstrating violent and inappropriate behaviour. It is important that these methods continue to be used. These include:
- removal or refusal of entry for people exhibiting disorderly or other inappropriate behaviour—this removal or refusal cannot be discriminatory in nature
- venue-specific bans where a licensee bans a patron indefinitely or for a specified period of time due to inappropriate behaviour, including acts of violence
- group-venue bans where a number of licensees (usually members of a liquor accord) ban patrons from all participating venues indefinitely or for a specified period of time, due to inappropriate behaviour, including acts of violence
- police utilising "move on" powers, requiring people leave a stated area and not return for a specified period of up to 24 hours.
For more information see our Patron Bans fact sheet (PDF 360 K).
New responsibilities for the Queensland Gaming Commission
Amendments to the Liquor Act and Gaming Machine Act 1991 extended the responsibility of the Queensland Gaming Commission. The Commission is now also responsible for making key liquor licensing decisions of significant community impact. This includes decisions on new hotel licences, nightclubs and extended trading hours.
On 1 July 2011, these changes came into effect, at which time the name of the body changed to the Queensland Liquor and Gaming Commission.
New main purpose for the Liquor Act
The amendments also provide for a new main purpose of the Liquor Act, which is to regulate the liquor industry and areas surrounding licensed premises, in a way that is compatible with these outcomes:
- minimisation of harm, and potential harm, from alcohol abuse, misuse and associated violence
- minimisation of adverse impacts on the health or safety of members of the public
- minimisation of adverse impacts on the amenity of the community.
The government will also focus on the following key measures:
- liquor regulatory harm minimisation strategy
- free water for patrons at certain licensed venues
- reduced accreditation fees for responsible service of alcohol trainers
- further research into best practice for responsible service, management and training
- increased commitment to responsible service of alcohol practices
- continuation of education programs for schools.
Liquor regulatory harm minimisation strategy
In response to the parliamentary inquiry into alcohol-related violence, a new harm minimisation strategy for the liquor industry is being developed.
The Liquor regulatory harm minimisation strategy is being based on the highly successful Queensland responsible gambling strategy (PDF 380 K) which has sustained long-term improvements to Queensland's problem gambling prevalence rates.
The strategy will incorporate regulatory strategies and priority action areas, focussing on creating a more responsible drinking environment, fostering more informed attitudes and behaviours towards drinking and protecting Queensland's most vulnerable and at-risk populations.
The new strategy will complement the Queensland drug strategy.
Most licensed premises in Queensland now have to serve cold water over the bar for free to patrons upon request, following a decision by the state government. This preventative measure is to improve patron responsibility by interspersing alcohol drinks with water.
The rules for free water apply to commercial hotels, community clubs, casinos, bars, public event permit holders and other licensees who trade beyond midnight, including nightclubs. Low-risk venues, such as restaurants, without approval to trade after midnight can continue to provide water at a 'reasonable cost' to alleviate the financial impact.
Licensees found in breach of the free water rules can face penalties of up to $4000.
Last reviewed 16 February 2012