If your community is already experiencing alcohol-related harms and you feel a new outlet has the potential to cause or increase harm you are able to present your concerns to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor.
The Liquor Licensing Act 1988 states that where a liquor licence application is required to be advertised, the right to object is given to:
Any resident of the affected area (the affected area is an area specified by the Director of Liquor Licensing under Section 71).
Within this section of the Act (Section 73), the term ‘resident’ includes any person, or group of people who have a proper interest in the affected area, other than as a licensee, and who are likely to be affected by the grant of the application.
The submission must be based on one or more of the following grounds of objection:
- That the grant of the application would be contrary to the public interest – Section 74(1)(a)
- The grant of an application would cause undue harm or ill health to people, or any group of people due to the use of liquor – Section 74(1)(b)
- On an application relating to a Category A licence, the grant of the application is not necessary in order to provide for the requirements of the public – Section 74(1)(d).
Or, if the application were granted:
- Undue offence, annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience to people who reside or work in the vicinity, or to people in or travelling to or from an existing or proposed place of public worship, hospital or school, would be likely to occur – section 74(1)(g)(i)
- The amenity, quiet or good order of the locality in which the premises or proposed premises are, or are to be, situated would in some other manner be lessened – section 74(1)(g)(ii).