Legislation removes licence strikes
Hotels in New South Wales are breathing a sigh of relief after state parliament passed legislation last week removing strikes recorded against licensed venues.
The NSW Liquor Amendment (Reviews) Bill is a big change to the law so that strikes will be now recorded against the licensee rather than the venue.
This is good for pub owners because it will ensure the value of the property will not be affected by a license strike.
That change came after lobbying from the NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association, complaining that having a strike against a venue would see banks revaluing the business.
Racing Minister Paul Toole confirmed the three strikes rule had been removed but any licence conditions imposed on venues along with a strike would remain in place. That would be subject to an application to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority for their alteration or removal.
He said it would be “impractical” for the previous strikes to remain in place.
After all, it would be unwieldy to have two different schemes in place when the government is moving ahead with a new scheme.
Arthur Laundy, whose hotel The Steyne in Manly received a strike said he felt vindicated as he had always regarded the three strikes rule as unfair.
“I’ve said it right from the start, the government got it right with the clubs, but they didn’t get it right with the hotels," Laundy told The Shout.
“As I explained to someone yesterday who was struggling to understand the issue: you own a trucking company and you employ drivers, if a driver goes out and has a serious accident, who should get the penalty? The driver of the truck, or the owner of the truck? He said, good analogy, I understand."
"I own the hotel, but I’m not at the hotel. I’m not the licensee. I’ve never considered it was a fair rule. I’ve argued now for some years on exactly that line. People have called me this morning to say it was a good victory, and I’ve said it was fair. I don’t think I asked for anything that was unfair.
by Leon Gettler, May 31st 2017
