Policy
The objects of the Liquor Act must be considered in deciding any matter before the licensing authority.
It is important that the Act includes an object that recognises the value and importance of live music. Then, the interests of music become a relevant consideration in licensing matters such as applications, amenity or complaints processes, variations on trading hours and conditions or transfer of licenses.
At this time only New South Wales, Western Australia, and South Australia have a specific reference to live music and entertainment in the objects of their Acts. This reference can be seen as desirable by the live music and entertainment industry as it can also deliver context in arbitration for complaints and can be very much a positive consideration in what is a heavily regulated area associated with risk.
3 Objects of Act
(1) The objects of this Act are as follows:
(c) to contribute to the responsible development of related industries such as the live music, entertainment, tourism and hospitality industriesLIQUOR LICENSING ACT 1997 – SECT 3
3—Objects
(1) The object of this Act is to regulate and control the sale, supply and consumption of liquor for the benefit of the community as a whole and, in particular—(b) to further the interests of the liquor industry and industries with which it is closely associated—such as the live music industry, tourism and the hospitality industry—within the context of appropriate regulation and controls;