Three Strikes 'penalising wrong parties'

The NSW Government's 'Three Strikes' policy has come under fresh criticism for hurting pub freehold owners rather than the individuals in charge of the venue's operations.

The Australian Hotels Association (NSW) is assisting pub owners in cases where they have been stuck with the  legacy of being added to the 'Three Strikes' register of violent venues following incidents that occured under the management of a lessee operator.

This recently occurred at the Belmore Hotel in Maitland, where the owners were advised that any sale of the property would be affected by a reprimand earned by a former licensee who was leasing the pub.

The Belmore Hotel, Maitland, currently for sale through CBRE Hotels

"The venue successfully challenged the allegations made against it and had its name removed from the register," said Joel Fisher, director of CBRE Hotels, which is now marketing the venue.

"However it highlighted the inherent flaws in the legislation, as it was the licensee who was leasing the hotel from the current owners who was found to be at fault."

AHA NSW CEO, Paul Nicolaou said a number of venues that have been given strikes have since had them removed, like the St Kilda Hotel in Armidale.

''We will continue to gather facts and take them forward to government," he said.
 

Source: The Shout, 15 October 2012