Media Releases

24 February, 2010
Government tries secret back-pedal on pub/club fees

Country publicans and club operators hit by the State Labor Government’s cruel liquor license fee rises should not give up the fight, Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum, said today.

Speaking after a mass rally in Melbourne highlighting the liquor laws impact on live music venues, Mr Drum said: “We are starting to get some reports that pub and club operators who stand their ground and demand a fairer deal are making some headway.

“But it’s all so sneaky.

“The pattern we are starting to detect is that when a licence holder gets the first outrageous demands for higher fees, they can ask for special consideration.

“In a very few cases, a percentage has been shaved, but in some other cases the Liquor Licence Commission has been telephoning people and offering them larger reductions – just days after knocking back their applications for reduction on hardship grounds.”

Mr Drum said the liquor licence fees fiasco was turning into an anti-regional farce.

“Labor thinks it’s solved the issue so far as the Melbourne live music problem is concerned – but it hasn’t – and now it’s trying to back-pedal on the anti-country slant one premises at a time.”

Mr Drum said it was vital that operators who felt they had been treated unfairly contact the Liquor Licence Commission immediately and ask for a review of their application.

“This started out as a supposed attempt by Labor to curb alcohol-fuelled violence but has turned into a greedy, clumsy tax grab – with absolutely no evidence that it’s calming things down in Melbourne’s night club and strip club precincts.

“The Brumby Government should dump this stupid tax grab immediately,” he said.