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Over 10,000 small businesses and community groups will have their liquor licensing fees reduced by more than half, Nationals member for Rodney, Paul Weller, announced this week.

Mr Weller said today that the Liberal Nationals Coalition Government has followed through on pre-election commitments to cut huge license imposts put in place by the previous Labor government.

He said the new regulations would apply the many businesses and groups that posed a low risk to alcohol-related violence, and was in direct contrast to the previous government’s “one size fits all” regulations.

Mr Weller said the base renewal fee has been reduced for the following categories:

• Full club (without gaming machines)
• Restricted club
• Vignerons
• Restaurant and café
• Renewable limited
• BYO permits

“The reductions will benefit many regional groups that were hit hard by the steep increases implemented by the former Brumby Government,” Mr Weller said.

“So restaurants and cafes including BYO, vignerons, limited and restricted clubs licensees, who would have been paying over $400 will now pay a base renewal fee of just $200.

“Full club licensees without gaming, that were facing fees of more than $800, will now pay just $400.

“The former State government did not take into account the low risk nature of many regional and rural community clubs and businesses and put them under increased pressure as a result. I am pleased that Minister Michael O’Brien along with Premier Ted Baillieu has been able to act so quickly for these businesses in reducing their liquor license fees.

“The Coalition Government has made the changes in order to support the activities of those low-risk community organisations and small businesses that contribute so much,” said Mr Weller.

The fee structure is a risk based model that sets fees according to the risks of alcohol-related harm posed by different types of licences.

The government will also review fees for packaged liquor licences, to address any anomalies that see all packaged liquor outlets charged the same fee regardless of their size.

Mr Weller pointed out that there were still businesses with packaged liquor licences that had been ordered to pay increased fees but a review of this category would be carried out.

“I would encourage any packaged liquor licence fee holders who are struggling out there to make a hardship application as the Director of Liquor Licensing has the power to waive or reduce licence fees,” said Mr Weller.

Hardship applications must be received by Liquor Licensing by 15 February 2011.  Applicants should be aware that they will be required to submit certain financial information and provide a reason for why they are seeking relief for payment of full fees.

Licensees can seek to reduce their liquor licensing renewal fee by applying to reduce their patron numbers or trading hours.

Mr Weller also wanted to remind Licensees that their recently received renewal fees must be paid prior to March 31, 2011.

For information on liquor licensing fees and application forms, go to www.justice.vic.gov.au/alcohol.

The battle waged by Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, for a fairer go for sporting and community groups hit hard by the State Government’s liquor licences fee hikes has produced a positive result.

 

The government this week finally caved in under community and political pressure with an announcement that fee discounts would be introduced for small clubs and groups, ahead of a full review of club licensing arrangements and fees in 2011.

 

The new discounts will take the form of a 50 per cent reduction on 2011 renewal fees.

 

“It is a very pleasing outcome and a good result for those small clubs and groups which had virtually been crippled by the massive fee increases introduced by the government under the so-called risk based fee structure.

 

“It was obvious right from the very start that the legislation was both unjustified and unfair as it applied to small country operations. It was basically just a grab for cash by the government, which has finally had to back-track because of the enormous community unrest over this issue,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said he and his fellow Nationals colleagues right around the state had been flooded with complaints over the increased fees.

 

“We have had deputations, petitions and individual representations to the Minister for Consumer affairs over this issue, and we started seeing the cracks appear a few months with a new director of liquor licensing being put in place.

 

“I was further encouraged to get positive results after that in relation to my representations on behalf of the Nanneella and Corop stores.

 

“And now we have the backdown on small clubs and groups, with the promise of a full review to come. This is very necessary as it is fundamentally flawed legislation which has forced many liquor outlets to downgrade trading hours of surrender their licences completely.

 

“Small hotels in towns right round the Rodney electorate such as Undera, Waaia, Picola, Merrigum, Ky West and Toolleen have all been hit hard, and the legislation must be changed to protect them,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said it was Coalition policy to review the risk based liquor licence fee structure and work towards implementing a more equitable system which did not unfairly penalise small liquor licensees in country Victoria.

Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, welcomes the decision by the new Director of Liquor Licensing, Mark Brennan, to reduce the liquor license fees for the Nanneella General Store and the Corop General Store.

 

Both stores will have their liquor licence fees cut from the current $1590 back to $397 – with the possibility that an even lower fee might be put in place.

 

Mr Weller was advised of the change of heart this week by the new Director of Liquor Licensing, Mark Brennan, who said that following representations from Mr Weller, he had reviewed the circumstances relating to the licence fees of the Nanneella General Store and the Corop General Store.

 

He said that under the regulations, he had the power to reduce the $1590 fees, which was imposed by the State Government as part of a harsh new liquor licensing regime aimed at boosting revenue to enable stricter policing on city-based hotel trouble spots.

 

Mr Brennan said he would be reducing the fee payable by the stores down to $397, this being the lowest base fee payable under the regulations.

 

“Looking forward, I am prepared to explore whether, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the business, there is a more appropriate licence category, which may attract a lower base fee than that applicable to a packaged liquor licence,” Mr Brennan said.

 

Mr Weller, in thanking the new director, said the change of heart was vindication of his stance on the issue.

 

“It was always obvious that the government’s new licensing system was blatantly unfair to small country liquor outlets. The huge fees slapped on them basically made many unviable.

 

He said he would continue to press the case for other small liquor outlets throughout his electorate.

 

“I am really happy for the store operators. It has been an unnecessarily stressful time for them, and we finally have a positive outcome,” Mr Weller said.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller is continuing his battle to win a fair deal for small business operators who have been hit hard by the State Government’s new liquor licence fees.

 

Mr Weller said the government had been embarrassed into making some obvious concessions, and had also installed a new director for liquor licensing.

 

“I am hopeful that with this change, there will come a more enlightened view of what is fair and what is not. The change at the top has all the hallmarks of a government in backdown mode,” he said.

 

Mr Weller blasted the government in parliament earlier this year, calling the liquor licence fee hike “a disaster of monumental proportions”.

 

In later representations, he has highlighted individual instances such as the Nanneella Store, which sells six slabs of packaged beer a week and has been hit with a $1590 fee and the Cohuna-Leitchville RSL, which made an annual net profit of $490 from packaged beer sales and had paid a fee of $93.

 

This jumped to $397, and was subsequently reduced to $300 after an appeal.

 

“Since then, not a lot has changed, but there are signs that we are making some progress, albeit at a very slow pace,” Mr Weller said this week.

 

He said that the government’s recent exemption of bed and breakfast operators from the new laws was “a small but important breakthrough”.

 

“It only came after extensive representations by the Coalition, but it was recognition that the government is really feeling the heat on this issue.

 

 “However, there are still many small businesses such as wineries, motels, local supermarkets, small country hotels and not-for-profit organisations who are feeling the weight of this heavy and unjustified tax grab.

 

“I am hopeful that with a new director of liquor licensing in place, there will be a more sensible and flexible approach. I would again urge all small business operators who think they have been treated unfairly to contact my office and I will do everything possible to assist..

 

“He has the power to reduce fees and also look at whether businesses have been placed in the appropriate licence category, which can make a huge difference,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said he would continue to keep pressure on the government over the issue.

 

“It was, and has been proven to be, flawed legislation, and it should be changed. However, whether this obstinate and arrogant government has the moral will to do so remains to be seen,” Mr Weller said.

Bed and breakfast operators can breath a little easier after a “small but important” breakthrough on the State Government’s liquor licensing tax laws, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller said that the government had finally given ground after extensive representations by the Coalition in relation to the tax hikes which have enraged the small business operators right around the state.

 

“Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson announced this week that from 2011, bed and breakfasts, florists and giftmaker businesses will be exempt from the tax.

 

“The limp excuse for this backflip was that the government was continuing to identify different types of businesses whose activities don’t cost a lot to regulate.

 

“The fact of the matter is that the government is looking to the November election and starting to realise just what damage this ridiculous new tax regime has caused.

 

“If the anger that has been obvious about this issue in my electorate of Rodney has been reflected right around the state, and I have no doubt that this is the case, then the government really had no option but to back down.

 

“But this is only a small concession and certainly not the end of the issue.

 

“When there are blatant examples of the unfairness of these tax hikes, and I have cited the Nanneella Store and the Cohuna-Leitchville RSL before, we are not prepared to back off in our attempts to get the government to see sense,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the store sold six slabs of beer a week but had been hit with a $1590 fee, while the RSL club made a net profit over $490 from packaged beer sales in the last 12 months and was “belted” with a $397 fee.

 

“We would love to hear Mr Robinson and Premier Brumby present their reasoning for these situations,” Mr Weller said.

 

“But of course we won’t. All we will hear is more spin about so-called substantial reform of the liquor industry. The whole process has been bungled, badly managed and blatantly unfair - in short, it has all the hallmarks of this government.

 

“We will be pushing the government at every opportunity to further review the legislation to take into account the disastrous impact it is having on not-for-profit groups, small country hotels, motels and supermarkets,” he said.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has again strongly attacked the government over its “disastrous” liquor licensing fees.

 

Mr Weller spoke on the issue at the Nationals State Conference held in Wangaratta last weekend.

 

He highlighted individual instances of the Nanneella store and the Cohuna Leitchville RSL as examples of what he described as a “bungled piece of legislation”.

 

“The tiny Nanneella Store sells six slabs of beer a week, and yet it has been slapped with a fee of $1590. It is patently ridiculous.

 

“And the Cohuna-Leitchville RSL saw its fee jump from $90 to $397. It appealed the ruling and had the fee pulled back to $300.

 

“Given that the club’s net profit from the sale of packaged alcohol for the last 12 months was $490, it doesn’t leave much left over.

 

“To further highlight just how badly the government has got this wrong, the ages of members range from 64 to 103.

 

“And yet this government considers this club, and the little store, to be at risk premises which should be financially penalised. It is pretty easy to make out a case for a government out of touch with ordinary people right around this state,” Mr Weller said.

 

The conference unanimously carried a motion condemning the Brumby Government “for its heavy-handed increases in liquor fees for many regional clubs and businesses”.

 

Mr Weller said that he was continuing to get phone calls and visits from business operators across the Rodney electorate who were both concerned and angry at the government’s fee hikes.

 

“They have been a disaster for many bed and breakfasts, wineries, not-for-profit organisations, small country hotels, motels and supermarkets.

 

“The appeal system the government has instituted has also proved a joke.

 

“The level of frustration from business owners and operators is at a very high level, and yet this arrogant government refuses to listen, amend or act in any meaningful manner.

 

“I will continue to push hard and to take every opportunity to put their point of view, and I can only hope that over a period of time during the next few months, the government will come to its senses on this issue,” he said.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller says the Brumby Government’s liquor licensing laws are an all-round disaster – and judging by public reaction, very few disagree.

 

Mr Weller said a public information session held at the Nathalia Hotel on Wednesday the 28^th of April proved conclusively that in the eyes of those most affected, the industry operators, the changes are “a mess”.

 

“There were some very upset people at our information sessions. There is a real sense of injustice, and hotel industry, tourism and small business operators right across my electorate are saying they simply cannot afford the whopping fee increases that the government has imposed on them.

 

“I feel very sorry for them, and I can fully understand their frustration and anger at what the government has done,” he said.

 

Mr Weller, along with the Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Michael O’Brien, listened to the concerns of affected business operators and not for profit organisations.

 

“What we are talking about here is bed and breakfast operators, small wineries, not for profit groups, small country hotels and motels as well as supermarkets.

 

“They have all been hit with outrageous hikes in liquor licence fees that have been imposed without any justification and certainly no consideration of local situations.

 

“Thankfully, as a result of the pressure we have been applying and the community backlash, the minister has been forced to admit that the fee structure needs to be reviewed, and has asked for more work to be done on it.

 

“It is work that should have been done before the laws were announced, and yet another classic knee-jerk reaction from an out of touch government.

 

“However, the bottom line is that many licensees will still be forced to wear massive fee increases this year.

 

Mr O’Brien said that the Strathmerton Lions Club had been forced to cancel their liquor license rather than pay the governments unfair, higher fees.

 

Mr Weller said that the Coalition would continue to pressure the government “until commonsense prevails”.

 

“We won’t be abandoning country people simply trying to make a living in tough times, and I will be continuing my representations to the government on this issue at every possible opportunity,” he said.

The Brumby Government’s new liquor licensing system is unravelling into a disaster of monumental proportions, The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

During a speech to State Parliament, Mr Weller branded the new scheme a disgrace and called on the government to scrap the regime.

“This new system is a stuff-up on so many levels and highlights the complete incompetence of the Brumby Labor Government,” Mr Weller said.

“It is a disaster for the government which has been caught out flogging a flawed and poorly considered program in a bid to increase its revenue from liquor licensing fees by a massive $20 million.

“And it is a disaster for the many bed and breakfasts, wineries, not-for-profit organisations, small country hotels, motels, supermarkets and other liquor licensee holders across country Victoria who have been hit with outrageously unfair hikes in their annual liquor licence fees.”

Mr Weller said the new system was more about raising revenue than dealing with alcohol-related risk.

“At Nathalia, the local hotel has been hit with an annual licence fee of $2450 this year – a staggering jump from the $950 fee charged last year,” he said.

“And according to the bill, $1500 of that amount is to cover ‘risk management’ which is to supposedly fund extra police to address alcohol-fuelled violence.

“This is a complete insult when the fact is that the police presence has actually decreased at Nathalia during the past 12 months.”

Mr Weller said in another blow for the government, its liquor licence hardship program had also been exposed as a rort.

He said licensees who applied for a reduction or waiver in their renewal fees had either been offered paltry reductions in their fees or had their applications knocked back.

“Now this week, just days after licensees had their applications rejected, we are hearing that the Liquor Licence Commission is telephoning licensees and offering them massive reductions on their liquor licence renewal fees on the condition of reduced trading hours.

“The way this entire program has been handled is a disgrace and it’s time the government owned up to that fact and scrapped the changes altogether.”

Not-for-profit community groups who applied for a reduction or waiver in their liquor licence renewal fees through the Brumby Government’s financial hardship program have labelled the process a waste of time.

Nationals MP Paul Weller said many organisations who applied for assistance through the scheme had received only paltry reductions to their annual fee.

Mr Weller said sporting and community groups in the Rodney electorate were enormously disappointed with the small reduction in fees and felt the entire process had wasted their time.

“I have been contacted by the Cohuna/Leitchville RSL and the Leitchville Footballers Cricket Club this week and each have had their liquor licence renewal fee reduced by $97 to $300,” he said.

“Given that their licence fee was $93 last year, even with the reduction in fee, these clubs are still being slugged with a 200% rise.”

Mr Weller said both the Cohuna-Leitchville RSL and the Leitchville Footballers Cricket Club had been advised in writing by the Director of Liquor Licensing that they had presented a “reasonable case that payment of the full amount of the 2010 liquor licence fee may cause serious financial hardship’.

He said given that acknowledgment, the fees for each club should have been waived.

“If the Brumby Labor Government seriously thinks a reduction of $97 is going to make any genuine difference in assisting not-for-profit groups to avoid financial hardship it is very much misguided.

“These clubs have put a lot of time and effort into compiling their applications for this hardship program in the hope that they would receive meaningful assistance, but once again they’ve been let down.

“They make no profit from their licence and they don’t contribute to the alcohol-related violence on city streets yet they are still being forced to wear the exorbitant costs of this seriously flawed ‘risk-based’ liquor licensing regime.”

Mr Weller said he had written to the Consumer Affairs Minister seeking an urgent review of applications submitted under the hardship program.

He said he had also urged the Minister to seriously investigate the impact of the new liquor licensing system on not-for-profit groups in country Victoria as part of the current review process.

Residents wishing to express their concerns over the effect of the new Liquor Licensing fees can do so by signing the online petition at www.saveourpub.com.au.

Premier John Brumby has again been caught out snubbing country Victoria after publicly revealing his ‘city centric’ stance on liquor licence laws, The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

Mr Brumby told Melbourne radio station, Triple M, that he would ‘fine tune’ liquor licence laws to ensure that popular inner city Melbourne venue, the Tote, could afford to continue to operate.

The Tote closed last week citing costs of compliance with liquor licence laws as the cause.

Mr Weller said the public pledge to save the Tote was made at the same time Mr Brumby was refusing to be moved by the please of hundreds of small country liquor licensees hurt by the massive liquor licence fee hikes.

“This is political opportunism at its worst,” he said.

“The Minister for Consumer Affairs Tony Robinson stated that strict licensing conditions, including significant security costs, were necessary and would not be reduced for the Tote.

“Then when 2000 people protested in Spring Street and 20,000 people signed an e-petition calling for the re-opening of the Tote, suddenly Mr Brumby pledged on radio to ‘fine tune’ the controversial liquor licence laws to allow the Tote to re-open.”

Mr Weller said it was no coincidence that the Tote was in a very marginal, inner city seat held by the Labor Party’s Richard Wynne.

“Mr Brumby’s actions confirm what many people have long suspected - that his policies are based on holding onto power regardless of who gets hurt in the process,” he said.

“The Premier must be held accountable on this issue and start taking the concerns of country licensees seriously by immediately reducing liquor licence fees for the hundreds of small, minimal risk businesses that have had their financial viability put at risk by liquor licence fee hikes of more than 400%.”