Queensland Government Passes Lock-Out Laws After Deal With Katter’s Australian Party

Thursday 18 February 2016 @ 11.01 a.m. | Trade & Commerce

A deal with Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MPs has allowed the Queensland Palaszczuk Government to pass its controversial lock-out laws, that will see last drinks called at 2:00 am in licensed venues across Queensland, or 3:00 am in entertainment precincts.  The Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 passed through Parliament with amendments last night after a heated debate, with ABC News reporting that “more than half the Parliament spoke on the legislation”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told ABC News:

“The evidence is clear: reduced trading hours leads to reduced violence, and that's what this Bill delivers…

Doing nothing is not an option. I've spoken to countless doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, parents and grandparents who have urged me to take action to curb alcohol-fuelled violence”.

The LNP opposed the laws, with shadow attorney-general Ian Walker telling ABC News the laws were “not good policy” and “[a]s legislators, emotion is not enough. It's the head that has to rule when we look at legislation.”

Key Provisions

The Bill amends the Liquor Act 1992 to stop the sale of alcohol at 2 am across the entire state.  Areas designated by regulation as “safe night precincts” will be allowed to sell alcohol until 3 am, but will be subject to a 1 am lock-out. 

The ALP’s deal with the KAP means implementation of the 1 am lock-out will be delayed until 2017.  As in NSW, casinos will be exempt from the legislation.

The Bill also prohibits new licence approvals for the sales of takeaway liquor after 10 pm.  Existing licensees will still be able to sell liquor until midnight.

The Bill also provides for a regulation banning the service of “high-alcohol content drinks and alcoholic beverages designed to be consumed rapidly” after midnight,  It is likely to cover shots, although the Bill’s explanatory speech suggests exemptions could be made for “small bars specializing in the sale of premium spirits”, e.g. whisky bars.

The KAP Deal

The Courier Mail reported that in order to secure the support of the KAP, Ms Palaszczuk promised:

• An existing $8 million in Safe Night Out funding to be used to help businesses cope with the new laws;

• Fundraising for mental health programs to be prioritised in the 2016/2017 budget;

• Drug offenders also be banned from nightclub precincts if caught selling or possessing drugs in those areas;

• A delay in the implementation of the 1am lockouts for nightclub precincts until February 2017;

• Working Queensland Cabinet Committee to meet in Mount Isa and Charters Towers; and

• The laws to be independently reviewed in July 2018.

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