Queensland’s ‘takeaway liquor authority’ forgot to include bans on Good Friday and Anzac Day

Queensland law has long banned the sale of takeaway grog on both Good Friday and Anzac Day but a legal bungle allowing it has forced the government to quickly issue a “clarification’’.

It’s a tradition going way back.

Queensland law prohibits the sale of takeaway grog on both Good Friday and Anzac Day.

But, thanks to a bureaucratic bungle, the state’s existing “takeaway liquor authority’’ allows licensed venues to make the sales between Jan 1 and April 30.

There are no exceptions specified in this most up to date amendment to the Liquor Act, the latest in a series of temporary changes the government pushed through to assist hospitality operators stay afloat during the pandemic.

It currently allows licensees to sell up to 2.25 litres of booze per takeaway food order.

Yet when industry operators cottoned on to the blunder effectively allowing the sale of takeaway alcohol last Friday, the government quickly rushed out a “clarification’’ the day before in conjunction with the lifting of last week’s lockdown.

Licensees to sell up to 2.25 litres of booze per takeaway food order.

“The sale of liquor will be limited to consumption on premises only and this must occur in association with the patron eating a meal in a part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining,’’ decreed Victoria Thomson (illustrated), the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming.

That order is technically incorrect, according to one seasoned insider.

“They haven’t repealed the authority and the industry had a right to do it under that authority,’’ he told City Beat on Monday.

“Wherever there is a conflict between existing sections of the Act and this authority, the authority wins.’’

Beyond these arcane details, the fact remains that the government could easily have owned up to its mistake and sanctioned the takeaway sales on Friday.

That’s especially the case since we were emerging from a snap three-day lockdown and heading into a long holiday weekend, with tourism operators desperate for certainty.

“What better time was there for the Palaszczuk government to move out of the Joh-era Easter restrictions than right now?’’ one observer asked.

“I could have ordered takeaway meals from restaurants with a couple of bottles of wine. Instead, they say ‘no you can’t.’ The government had an opportunity to help the industry and they didn’t.’’

Strip clubs also got hit with a rule backflip late last week as the state adopted a two-week mask mandate.

Previously approved COVD-safe lap dances have been banned until April 15, according to an email issued by Anthony Crack, a top gun at Liquor and Gaming. And yes, that’s really his name.

Looking ahead, we’re waiting for the next “clarification’’ to lob regarding Anzac Day later this month.

TECH SCEPTICISM

The rollout of the new 5G network continues apace, promising a new era of super-fast downloads and other benefits.

But persistent hysteria about the technology and fears over the alleged health dangers it poses continue to taint what should be a welcome improvement for our connectivity.

In a disturbing twist, it turns out that Australia is among the world’s top three countries for carrying out the most number of sceptical online searches about 5G.

Research outfit Prolifics Testing recently revealed that nearly 33,000 such searches are done each month. Only the US and UK see more.

The study examined a raft of sceptical Google searches about 5G, including those wondering if it causes or spreads the coronavirus. For the record, it doesn’t.