01_QHA_July_Online

OLGR
with Victoria Thomson
OFFICE OF LIQUOR AND GAMING REGULATION UPDATE
QHA REVIEW | 28
Queensland’s Liquor Accords are a great example of
commitment to patron and community safety.
Each liquor accord is designed by its members
to create harm minimisation strategies that help
resolve local issues – so every accord is unique – but
the overarching purpose of an accord is to work
together to address issues facing the industry and
the community and to create safe and well-managed
environments in and around licensed premises.
Anti-social behaviour, including alcohol-related crime
or violence, and concerns about excessive noise are
reasons for adopting a liquor accord.
In addition to liquor licensees, members of local
accords can include Queensland Police, local councils,
community groups and other stakeholders.
Earlier this year, we hosted a liquor accord roundtable.
This roundtable was part of a liquor accord
reinvigoration project we’re currently undertaking to
encourage and support the creation and continuation
of sustainable, effective, industry-led accords in
Queensland.
The event was attended by representatives from liquor
accords, the Queensland Police Service and OLGR
officers from across Queensland. It provided an open
forum to share thoughts and experiences, success
stories and constructive feedback, and to develop key
actions for accords.
Our far northern team also took an opportunity to visit
Thursday Island, the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA),
and outer Torres Strait Islands licensees.
The NPA liquor accord, which spans from the Torres
Strait to Horn Island, includes 13 licensed venues and
is very active and community minded. Their recent
meeting focussed on responsible service of alcohol
training and education.
The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to
reconnect face-to-face after a challenging year for the
community due not only to the unique circumstances
they face operating licensed venues in remote areas,
but also those created by COVID-19.
If you are keen to contribute to improving your local
community’s safety, you can connect with your local
liquor accord, or, if there isn’t one in your area, you can
start your own.
Annual liquor licence fees go towards encouraging the
responsible service of alcohol in licensed venues and
improving community safety and amenity for you, your
staff, patrons and neighbours.
By now you will have received your annual liquor
licence fee notice, with your current trading hours.
If you would like to change these hours, you must
notify us in writing before 22 July 2021 so you pay the
correct fee.
If you need to make changes, please contact OLGR’s
licensing team immediately on 1300 072 322.
If the licence fee notice you received doesn’t require a
change, you can pay your fee through our online client
portal.
Gaming Exclusions Data
From 1 July 2021, an online link will allow you to
report your venue’s gaming exclusions data for the
period 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021. This must be
completed by 16 July 2021.
Reporting your venue’s exclusion via the online link is
quick and easy and does away with the need to fax or
mail forms to us.
Please remember, you are required to submit a report
even if your venue has had no exclusions during the
reporting period. The data collected is used to inform
gambling and harm minimisation policy.
If you need help with your report, phone 3738 8333 or
email gamingstatistics@justice.qld.gov.au.
We’ve been talking a lot about gambling harm
minimisation in recent editions and I’ve been really
pleased to hear examples of the work hotels are doing
– from setting up gambling help services in venue
cafes, to using technology to identify patrons who
have self-excluded. These are fantastic initiatives and
I’m looking forward to seeing more great work in this
area as I visit venues around the state.