QHA-Review_March_Digital

Damian Steele
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
TRIAL TO IMPROVE LIQUOR AND
GAMING APPLICATION TIMEFRAMES
Following QHA representations on the timeliness of the
application process, the Office of Liquor and Gaming
Regulation (OLGR) is trialing new measures to help
improve the efficiency of the licence transfer process.
The undermentioned new measures have been
implemented with the intention of further decreasing
the processing time for licence transfers and alleviating
industry concerns:
• where no changes are proposed to the business
model, OLGR will approve liquor licence
transfer applications and new gaming machine
applications on condition that a risk assessed
management plan (RAMP) is provided within 60
days of the licence being issued;
• the same conditions will apply with respect to
approved gaming plans. As OLGR has approved
plans on file for all approved gaming premises,
OLGR will impose a licence condition requiring the
gaming plans to be provided within 60 days of the
licence being issued;
• to avoid delays waiting on tenancy documents
(leases, title searches etc), the application form
will be amended to include a declaration that no
one other than the licensee has, or will have, a
direct or indirect interest in the conduct of gaming
should a licence be granted;
• OLGR previously required evidence of settlement
prior to approving an application. However,
as settlement occurs in approximately 60%
of applications prior to the transfer/licence
assessment process being completed, where
evidence of settlement is provided to OLGR
during the assessment process, OLGR will not
require further evidence to finalise the application.
The obligation rests with the applicant to advise
OLGR if/when circumstances change; and
• OLGR has updated its procedures to ensure
staff provide advice to an applicant of any leave
periods and who to contact in their absence.
The best way to ensure your application is processed
efficiently is to make sure you lodge a complete
application with all required supporting documents
in the first instance. The greatest cause of delay in
licence transfers is lodging an incomplete application
or not providing the information requested by OLGR.
Some of the common matters that are missed include:
• incomplete application forms, including material
required for police and creditworthiness checks;
• missing or incorrect signatures; and
• insufficient information about associates or
executive officers of the applicant.
The trial will run for six months, after which OLGR will
review the impact and effectiveness of the changes.
OLGR will also be further reviewing the Form 3 –
Application for a gaming machine licence and will be
seeking feedback from industry on how the application
forms can be improved for users.
The QHA is grateful to Shannon Fentiman MP,
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for
Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic
and Family Violence; to Victoria Thompson, Deputy
Director-General, Commissioner for Fair Trading, and
Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming; and to Anthony
Crack, Executive Director, Office of Liquor and Gaming
Regulation; for working collaboratively with industry on
these matters. The QHA also appreciates the feedback
provided by hotel members and industry partners who
have been involved in the application process.
QHA REVIEW | 33