Liquor licence reforms makes it easier for businesses to serve booze
The state government has announced reforms to liquor licences and outdoor dining permits, days after Victoria was ranked the worst state in Australia to do business.
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Victorian cafes, pubs, and restaurants will no longer need to apply for a planning permit from their local council to serve alcohol under reforms designed to reduce red tape.
Victorian venues which serve alcohol currently require both a liquor licence from the Victorian Liquor Commission and a planning permit from their local council.
Under the new reforms to be announced on Sunday by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, businesses will now only need the liquor licence from the Victorian Liquor Commission to serve booze.
The Allan Government said that this change, which will come into effect by 1 July 2025, will remove the “double up”, saving businesses up to $7,000 and enabling them to open up to six months earlier.
“These changes send a clear message: Victoria is open for business,” Ms Allan said.
“Victoria’s already the food and culture capital of Australia. We want to see more bars, restaurants and pubs open their doors, and we’re going to help them do it sooner.”
The announcement comes after a report released on Tuesday by the Business Council of Australia found Victoria was the worst state to do business in Australia due to the amount of red tape and taxes.
“Victoria has some of the least competitive property tax settings, payroll taxes and business licensing requirements in the country. It fundamentally needs to look at how these are holding back its economy,” Business Council chief executive Bran Black said.
More than 14,000 businesses in Australia have had to apply for both licenses under the current laws.
Businesses will also no longer need a planning permit for outdoor dining on public land.
The change was temporarily introduced during the pandemic, but will now be permanent.
It will allow venues to serve customers on streets, footpaths and carparks without a planning permit.
Protections around amenity, noise and operating hours will remain in place, while zoning and planning permit requirements will continue to determine where restaurants and pubs can open their doors.
These changes are part of the government’s delayed economic growth strategy, which was set to be released in November, and is the first in a series of announcements the government will make this week.
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Originally published as Liquor licence reforms makes it easier for businesses to serve booze
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