The Premier
The Hon Kristina Keneally MP
New South Wales Parliament
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW
14.12.2009
Dear Premier,
Transfer of liquor licences within the state of New South Wales
When the Carr government freed up the transfer process for liquor licences in New South Wales I am sure the government did not foresee the future consequences of these changes.
The law no longer requires an applicant for a liquor licence to demonstrate an unmet need. Some would say this was designed by Bob Carr's Labor government to facilitate the extraordinary expansion of Woolworths and Coles into liquor retailing.
At the same time as these amendments were made, the Carr Government also withdrew the restriction that a liquor licence could only be transferred within its own postcode. Now a licence can be transferred from anywhere in NSW.
In recent weeks we have witnessed the New South Wales state government orchestrating a campaign against anti social behaviour and using unprecedented police numbers to control alcohol fuelled violence with in our communities.
A great emphasis has been placed by the government through the media on the reduction of hotel and club hours and the unsocial behaviour of their patrons but little attention has been given to the packaged liquor industries outlets that have proliferate within the state since the Carr Labor government.
These outlets have become a social curse not only in this state but through out Australian and the easy access to alcohol in a contributing factor to domestic violence and under aged drinking and its unwanted social consequences.
It is also unreasonable for front line police to be exposed to the violence created by anti social behaviour due alcohol fuel violence where during the last twelve months it has been reported that 3000 police have been injured when attending to these incidents.
You might ask why I am taking the time to write to you on this matter the reason is, I am concerned about the predatory behaviour of the large corporation like Woolworths and Coles who set up subsidiary companies with in their corporations to exploit the current state laws to expand their hold and greater market share in the retail package liquor industry.
We have a situation in Springwood where within a five (5) kilometre radius there are eight (8) outlets for the sale of package liquor.
Yet Woolworths through their subsidiary BSW has submitted to the local council and the Department of Liquor Gaming & Racing applications for a licence and approval to open another package liquor outlet in Springwood and if granted will it drive an existing non liquor retailing business out of town by taking over their leased premises.
This has come about by the fact that the Carr government allowed the transfer of licences from out side the designated post codes areas and the large corporations like Coles and Woolworths are exploiting this loop hole in the law for all their worth.
In the public interest I am calling on your government to change the current law and revert to the original practice of only licence transfers within the designated post code areas for the sale of package liquor to halt the predatory practice of Coles and Woolworths and other corporate monopolies.
Your government need to show leadership and not to be seen as a captive of the liquor industry.
Yours faithfully
Richard Jackson-Hope
P.O. Box 14
BLAXLAND NSW 2774
E-mail aro@pnc.com.au