The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor is responsible for regulating and maintaining the integrity of lawful racing, gambling and liquor activities for Western Australians to participate in.
Responsible Gambling Awareness Week
14 – 20 May 2012
Uncontrolled gambling can lead to difficulties in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which can have adverse consequences for the gambler, others, or for the community. Responsible Gambling Awareness Week is an initiative that works to promote responsible gambling practices in Western Australia. “Play Smart, Stay in Control”, is the focus of the 2012 campaign and aims to encourage a balanced and responsible approach to gambling.
For assistance, please contact the Gambling Awareness Helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gambleaware.com.au
Applying to become an approved manager at a licensed premises?
Click here for more information.
A note from the Director General on applying for a Liquor Licence
Disappointed applicants and commentators on liquor licensing decisions often do not understand why an apparent good idea for a “bar” is not approved by the liquor licensing authority.
While decisions of the licensing authority are governed by the Liquor Control Act 1988, an Act comprising some 320 pages, they are also governed by precedent decisions of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, with the Director of Liquor Licensing subject to further precedent decisions of the Liquor Commission.
Accordingly, licensing authority decisions must be evidentiary based with each application dealt with on its merits, and all parties to the proceedings being afforded procedural fairness.
Read more here.
Education and Training Courses
On 8 October 2011, amendments were made to the Liquor Control Regulations 1989 that concern vocational education and training institutions which offer educational training courses where the sale and supply of liquor is a component of the course. Regulation 9A(10b) has been amended to remove the requirement for the sale and supply of liquor to be ancillary to a meal for the purposes of training courses conducted at educational institutions holding a special facility licence. This allows students, as part of their course, to serve alcohol at cocktail functions.
Further amendments were made to regulation 9A(10d)which provide for vocational education and training institutions conducting an approved viticulture course, to attend a special event, subject to the Director’s approval, outside of the grounds of their institution to promote their facilities and course as well as to offer tastings of the liquor produced by its students.
In addition, liquor may now be sold by educational institutions, subject to the Director’s approval, in any quantity to liquor merchants for the purposes of promoting their institution.
Liquor Restricted Premises
Part 3 of the Liquor Control Amendment Act 2011 relating to Liquor Restricted Premises was proclaimed on 8 October 2011. This introduced provisions under Part 5B of the Liquor Control Act 1988 (‘the Act’) enabling an owner or occupier of a residential or non-residential premises to apply to the Director of Liquor Licensing to have their premises declared as a liquor restricted premises for a specific period, thereby prohibiting the consumption of alcohol therein. The new provisions also enable the chief executive officer of the Department of Child Protection to apply for a particular residential premises to be declared a restricted premises.
For the purposes of deciding whether to declare premises to be liquor restricted premises the Director may consult with all or any of the following persons –
(a) owners or occupiers of the premises the subject of the application;
(b) owners or occupiers of premises near the premises the subject of application;
(c) the Commissioner of Police;
(d) the relevant local government; and
(e) any other person, body or authority the Director considers may be able to provide information relevant to the application.
An application is required in writing and no fee applies to applications lodged by the occupier.
Department goes live on Facebook
The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor now has a Facebook presence. Our Facebook page keeps all industry stakeholders up-to-date with the latest developments across the areas of racing, gaming and liquor. Why not become a follower of the Department by going to Facebook and typing in the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor.
The Casino (Burswood Island) Agreement Amendment Act 2011 became effective on 11 July 2011. The purpose of the Act is to ratify the 12th Supplementary Agreement which in turn amends the State Agreement scheduled to the Casino (Burswood Island) Agreement Act 1985 and it also makes consequential amendments to the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987. The major changes are summarised here.
Amendments to the Liquor Control Regulations 1989 took effect on 16 July 2011, and as a result a number of circumstances became exempt from the application of the Liquor Control Act 1988 (“the Act”). read more...