George Souris MP 
Sun 15 February, 2009 
Shadow Minister for Hospitality & Tourism, Racing and Major Events 

MR Licensing Laws 
stifling Tourism in NSW 

The NSW Government has egg on its face following the comprehensive 
bureaucratic failure to fully implement the new Liquor Act which came 
into force on July 1st, 2008 said the Opposition spokesman on 
Hospitality and Tourism George Souris. 

Mr Souris said that the Liberal/nationals Coalition supported the 
legislation, that brought in a new Liquor Act, in good faith. 

“It was expected that a number of “small bars” would appear, especially 
in the entertainment areas and CBDs of the main Cities. These bars would 
either be new bars or existing coffee shops and restaurants that would 
offer low key bars, food and live music making, it more attractive for 
holiday makers and tourists alike.” 

However, with barely any new liquor licenses approved under this 
provision of the Act, the Government has obviously mismanaged its 
implementation. 

Mr Souris said that all of the process, investigation, community 
consultation etc had shifted to the applicant and had added many months 
of delay involving, in some or in part, the need to obtain local 
government approvals, conducted community impact assessments and engage 
in public consultation. 

“Maybe the Labor Party knew all along that these small bars applicants 
would be so bogged down in bureaucratic process that few if any would 
see the light of day.” 

Not only is the licensing component of the new Act not working but so 
too are the policing and inspecting powers that were designed to deal 
more immediately with violence and binge drinking when it occurred. 

“An inexperienced Premier Rees then completely overturned the new Act 
with the summary introduction of a list of 48 venues, involving 
unworkable regulations about plastic containers, 10 minute shutdown 
every hour and lock-outs.” 

The ineptitude was exacerbated by the failure of the Bureau of 
Statistics to issue last quarter’s statistics and the failure of the 
Government to move venues off or onto the “list”. 

“Now we hear, barely 2¼ months after it was introduced, the “list” is to 
be abandoned in favour of new yet to be exposed “star ratings” system.” 

“Talk about a guess and giggle Government; this lot have no idea what 
they are doing from day to day,” Mr Souris said. 


Contact: George Souris 0427 241 528