Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW - Clubs NSW

12 Making it easier for new clubs to be established
12.3.1 Providing greater guidance about the process involved in establishing a
registered club
IPART considers that groups wishing to establish a registered club should be
provided with greater guidance about the process. This process involves many
government bodies, which can make it complex, time-consuming and expensive.
Based on legislation applicable at the time of writing this report, the major bodies
involved in registering a club are:
Licensing Court: the main body that assesses the application and grants the
licence.
Local councils or consent authorities: these authorities consult the community to
see if there are any objections to the establishment of a registered club in that
location.
OLGR: Director of Liquor and Gaming (Director) prepares various reports,
including premises report, (that is, compliance with statutory, regulatory and
other requirements such as Licensing Court Practice Directions). The Director
also prepares a probity report on the proposed secretary manager.
Police: Commissioner of Police reports on Section 10 issues in the Registered
Clubs Act (for example, the club is conducted in good faith, membership
requirements are met, the premises is appropriate for the purposes of the club),
checking into the constitution of the club, the company that underpins it, the
membership etc.
Liquor Administration Board: conducts the SIA process if required.
In a submission, ClubsNSW outlined 20 steps to becoming a registered club. 230
IPART considers that each of the steps is essential (see Appendix G for full list of
ClubsNSW’s steps to establishing a registered club).
Once the Liquor Act 2007 commences on 1 July 2008, some of the governing bodies
that administer club registration will change. For example, clubs wanting to be a
registered club will need to apply to the CLGCA for a club licence instead of
applying to the Licensing Court for a certificate of registration.
The CLGCA, Director and Commissioner of Police will still have a role in the
consideration of the application and the requirements of section 10(1) of the
Registered Clubs Act will still need to be fulfilled. However, there will be an
additional requirement, in the form of a Community Impact Statement (CIS). OLGR
has advised that a step-by-step process guide will be available to assist applicants in
preparing their CIS. The CIS is expected to be simpler than the current liquor SIA
process. It will summarise the results of consultation with local stakeholders – which
can include local councils, police, health, aboriginal representatives, community
organisations and residents. 231
230 ClubsNSW submission, 31 July 2007, pp 117-121.
231 OLGR, Liquor Law Reform: more responsibility, less red tape; Overview, March 2008, p 6.
Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW IPART 201