Liquor (Rural Hotels Concession) Amendment Bill 2017

Introduced: 23/3/2017By: Mr R Katter MPStatus: Lapsed

Regional Queensland Business & Economy Cost of Living

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Plain English Summary

Overview

This bill proposed a 90% discount on liquor licence fees for pubs in very remote parts of Queensland. It was introduced by Katter's Australian Party MP Robbie Katter to support struggling rural hotels that act as social hubs in small communities. The bill lapsed and did not become law.

Who it affects

Around 110 commercial hotel licence holders in very remote Queensland would have paid much lower fees, and the communities they serve would have benefited from more viable local pubs.

Key changes

Pubs in very remote Queensland would pay 10% of the standard liquor licence fee (a 90% discount)
Uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics 'very remote Australia' classification to decide which pubs qualify
Estimated to cost the Queensland Government around $300,000 per year in foregone revenue
Affects only commercial hotel licences, not other types of liquor licences
Bill lapsed at the end of parliament and did not become law

How this affects you

Regional Queensland

•Pubs in very remote Queensland towns would have paid 90% less in licence fees to help keep them open as community meeting placesClause 3 (new s 202A)Licence fee assessed at 10% of the fee that would be payable if the premises were not in very remote Australia.
•About 110 remote commercial hotels across Queensland would have qualified for the discountExplanatory notes state approximately 110 commercial licences exist in Queensland captured by the very remote Australia classification.
•The bill lapsed at the end of parliament and the concession was never introducedBill status: Lapsed.

Business & Economy

•Remote hoteliers would have seen a major drop in one of their fixed operating costsClause 3 (new s 202A)Creates a concessional fee of 10% of the standard rate for commercial hotel licences in very remote Australia.
•Eligibility would be based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 'very remote Australia' classification rather than local discretionClause 3, s 202A(5)References the Australian Statistical Geography Standard, volume 5 (Cat. No. 1270.0.55.005) published by the ABS.
•Only commercial hotel licences were covered, so clubs and other licensed venues would not have benefitedThe bill applies only to commercial hotel licences under the Liquor Act 1992.

Cost of Living

•Lower licence fees for remote pubs could have helped moderate the price of a drink or meal in isolated towns where operating costs are highThe bill's rationale notes that remote pubs operate on very low profitability even with prudent management.
•Queensland would have given up around $300,000 a year in licence fee revenue to support remote hotelsExplanatory notes estimate the lost revenue at approximately $300,000.

Bill Journey

Introduced23 Mar 2017

First Reading

Committee

Committee Report25 Sept 2017

Committee report tabled

Second Reading

Lapsed29 Oct 2017

Referenced Entities

Legislation

Liquor Act 1992

Organisations

Queensland Hotels Association Australian Bureau of Statistics

Sectors Affected

Accommodation Hospitality Liquor

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards