Review committee to look into liquor

 

The State Government is finalising its liquor licensing review committee to assess the State's liquor licensing laws, having dumped planned legislative change in March.

WA Business News understands that the committee will be made up of three individuals with no interest in any stakeholder group.

A spokeswoman for Racing, Gaming and Liquor Minister Nick Griffiths said no decisions had been made.

"We're still looking for suitable people and for those that would be available."

The Government last month announced it had agreed to terms of reference for an independent review of the Liquor Licensing Act (1988).

The committee is to consider the many elements contained in the Government's proposed legislative changes, which were announced in September last year.

They include Sunday trading for bottle shops and the provision to allow restaurants to sell liquor without a requirement to sell a meal.

The review committee will also assess: the current licence classification system; the merits of a public interest test in comparison to the public needs test; the impact of market domination on the liquor industry; and security issues associated with the operation of licensed premises and the control of special events.

The review committee will be examining submissions the State Government received in response to a discussion paper issued in July 2002 on the relationship between the Liquor Licensing Court and the Director of Liquor Licensing Court.