Liquor (Rural Hotels Concession) Amendment Bill 2018
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill cuts liquor licence fees by 90% for pubs located in very remote parts of Queensland. It recognises that hotels in remote communities are often the only social gathering place and struggle financially due to small populations and seasonal income fluctuations.
Who it affects
Hotel operators in very remote Queensland will pay significantly less for their liquor licences, helping keep their businesses viable. Remote community residents benefit from their local pub — often the only meeting place — remaining open.
Key changes
- Licence fees for commercial hotels in 'very remote Australia' reduced to 10% of the standard rate
- Approximately 110 hotels across Queensland qualify for the concessional fee
- Eligibility is determined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics remoteness classification
- The Queensland Government estimates foregone revenue of approximately $300,000 per year
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee2 May 2018View Hansard
Referred to Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee
The Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee recommended the Liquor (Rural Hotels Concession) Amendment Bill 2018 be passed. The bill, a Private Member's Bill introduced by Robbie Katter MP, proposed reducing liquor licence fees by 90 per cent for approximately 110 commercial hotels in very remote Queensland. The committee relied on the extensive inquiry conducted by the previous parliament's committee into the substantially identical 2017 Bill, which included 19 submissions, roundtable discussions in seven remote towns, and public hearings. No dissenting views were recorded.
Key findings (5)
- Hotels in very remote Queensland serve as essential community hubs, providing meeting places, tourist information, accommodation, postal services and emergency contacts far beyond their role as licensed venues.
- The majority of stakeholders supported the bill, arguing it was unreasonable for very remote hotels with tiny populations to pay the same $3,630 annual licence fee as hotels in Brisbane.
- The Queensland Coalition for Action on Alcohol opposed the bill on public health grounds, noting that per-capita alcohol consumption is higher in remote areas, but the committee was not persuaded.
- Clubs Queensland raised concerns about competitive fairness for the 32 clubs in very remote areas, but the committee noted the fee difference would only be approximately $300 and found no evidence of clubs with 2,000 or more members in very remote areas.
- The committee found no issues with fundamental legislative principles and considered the use of the Australian Bureau of Statistics 'very remote Australia' classification to be a satisfactory criterion.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends the Liquor (Rural Hotels Concession) Amendment Bill 2018 be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading26 Feb 2019View Hansard
▸18 members spoke18 support
As Attorney-General, supported the bill on behalf of the government and foreshadowed amendments to extend the concessional fee to small community clubs with 2,000 members or fewer, and to clarify it applies only to the base licence fee and not risk criterion fees or detached bottle shops.
“The government supports the intent of the bill to introduce a licence fee concession to licensees in very remote Queensland who provide vital services and social support to their communities.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill, emphasising that pubs are the social fabric of remote communities and citing examples of towns where the pub is the only business and gathering place.
“When those pubs are gone then that is it. That is the end of the community.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill as committee chair, noting the timely nature of the legislation given recent floods and bushfires in regional Queensland. Detailed the reduction from approximately $3,757 to $376 for eligible venues.
“I rise in the House today to support the passing of the Liquor (Rural Hotels Concession) Amendment Bill 2018 and recommend the private member's bill be passed.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill, drawing on firsthand knowledge of struggling pubs in his western Queensland electorate including the Great Western at Isisford and the Yaraka pub. Criticised the delay in getting the bill through parliament.
“In some cases the country pub is the town's main centre.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill despite representing a Logan City electorate, arguing that a one-size-fits-all approach to licence fees is unfair when remote hotels support populations as small as 75 people. Shared an anecdote about a military deployment to illustrate the importance of community gathering places.
“A liquor licensing structure whereby a hotel which supports a local population of 75 or even less is required to pay the same licence fee as an urban hotel that has 75 walks-in per hour is not a fair one.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill as essential to protecting the commercial viability of historic rural pubs that are central to Queensland's national identity and community life.
“Rural pubs have been the backbone of Queensland for over a century.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill and the government amendments to include community clubs and restrict the concession to the base fee only, citing the extreme challenges facing very remote Queensland during drought and flood.
“Whether it is the Purple Pub in Normanton or the Normanton Bowls Club, pubs and clubs alike will be at the forefront of the recovery for these communities.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill and moved an amendment to extend the concessional fee to drought-declared areas across Queensland, arguing the very remote definition is too narrow to capture all struggling communities.
“It was there that I realised that they pay the same licence fee for a catchment of 120 people as the Breakfast Creek Hotel pays in Brisbane, with a catchment north of two million people.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill as a former committee member who travelled extensively to hear from remote publicans, and advocated for expanding the bill's scope to drought-declared areas.
“Due to the remoteness, these watering holes are far more than a place to quench a thirst. They play unlimited roles in their communities and the extent of those roles is remarkable.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
As Minister for Local Government, supported the bill as a great example of parliament working collaboratively across party lines. Warned that the LNP drought amendment could have unintended consequences, noting Brisbane was drought declared in 2002.
“A majority government can listen to sensible proposals and look at how they can be improved to deliver outcomes and benefits for the people of Queensland.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill but argued it does not go far enough, listing struggling pubs in his drought-affected electorate that fall outside the very remote classification and would miss out on the concession.
“If there is no pub, there is no community.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill as an issue of fairness, describing outback pubs as the first structures built in many towns and serving as post offices, general stores and community meeting halls.
“These institutions are not just a place where people go to have a drink; in many cases they were the first structures built in a town during the gold rush.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill but highlighted the arbitrary nature of the ABS very remote line, noting that pubs in Mitchell get the concession but Yuleba, only 147 km away with similar circumstances, does not. Urged the bill's scope be broadened.
“The only difference in circumstances affecting the pubs in Mitchell or Yuleba, Cunnamulla or Surat is a line on the map from the ABS categorisation.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill and called for the bandwidth to be widened to protect more country pubs, lamenting the closure of pubs like Bouldercombe and Bajool in his electorate.
“I have lost Bouldercombe. There was 90 years of having a coldie at the Bouldie. We cannot have one anymore.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill, thanking committee members and stakeholders who travelled long distances to participate in the inquiry. Looked forward to the LNP amendments to extend concessions to drought-declared areas.
“The committee recognises the integral place that a hotel can hold in a very remote community.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Supported the bill, emphasising that remote pubs are much more than waterholes and serve as the heart and meeting place of their communities, especially during the recent North-West Queensland flood disaster.
“All the vision on the TV was of those affected graziers meeting at the local pub. That became the place where they all mustered.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
Expressed support for country pubs and clubs in a brief contribution.
“I support country pubs. I support country clubs. I support the bill. Well done!”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
In reply, thanked all members for their contributions and acknowledged the collaborative cross-party support. Thanked the Attorney-General and government for their support and amendments.
“It is a big move for the Attorney-General and the government to do this. I appreciate the gravity of it.”— 2019-02-26View Hansard
▸In Detail26 Feb 2019View Hansard
Government amendment 1: Inserted new clause 1A providing that the Act commences on 1 July 2019, aligning with the start of the next licensing period.
Government amendment 2: Extended the concessional fee scheme to small community clubs with 2,000 members or fewer in very remote Australia, and clarified that the concession applies only to the base licence fee (not risk criterion fees or detached bottle shop fees).
LNP amendment to the Attorney-General's amendment 2: Sought to extend the concessional fee to all commercial hotels and community clubs in drought-declared areas across Queensland, applying the 90% reduction to the full licence fee (not just the base fee).
Government amendment 3: Technical correction renumbering subsection (5) to subsection (3).
Government amendment 4: Inserted definitions for 'base licence fee', 'fee regulation', 'main premises' and 'very remote Australia' to clarify the scope of the concessional scheme and ensure the ABS classification applies from each 1 July.
Assent date: 16 March 2018