Licensing laws overhaul

The State Government has received a report recommending a wide range of changes to liquor licensing laws.

BUNDABERG police have welcomed State Government efforts to make alcohol-fuelled violence a thing of the past.

Following a parliamentary inquiry, an 84-page report has been released proposing radical new changes including bottle shops being closed by 9pm, parents being held liable for offences committed by their intoxicated children, and reduced trading hours for pubs and clubs.

Inspector Kev Guteridge of Bundaberg police said he welcomed any attempt to clean up our hard-drinking culture.

“Queensland Police welcome any amendment that will enhance the safety of the community,” he said.

“Unfortunately, every weekend we see instances of assaults and very poor standards of public behaviour while people are affected by alcohol.

“In many instances, these people are acting out of their usual character.”

Insp Guteridge said members of the community should be aware of the consequences of their bad behaviour.

“Our watch-houses are often full of aggressive people on a Friday and Saturday night who wake up feeling very sorry for themselves and regretting their actions the following day,” he said.

Insp Guteridge said he was also keen to see parents accepting responsibility for their drunken children.

“In all aspects of life, police encourage responsible parenting,” he said.

“They certainly need to be educated to tell them what is right and wrong.”

But the proposal will come at a price, with a considerable increase in police numbers required to implement the recommendations, defence training for paramedics, alcohol education programs and an overhaul of night-time public transport also proposed.

The proposal would also see 5am licences banned, with venues able to trade until 4am in entertainment precincts and 3am in other areas.

Trading would be reduced to no later than 2am on weekdays.

Liquor licensing minister Peter Lawlor has committed the government to reduced trading hours, better transport, more police and a glass ban on all venues not deemed low-risk within two years, but has not committed to all the report’s recommendations.

Mr Lawlor said the government hoped to employ many of the recommendations before 2011, but details were still being determined.