The public, businesses, police and council can have their say on liquor licence applications that may impact the local area and affect the lives of people living around the licensed premises. This includes new applications and applications to vary conditions.

Anyone in the local area, with a proper interest and who is—or is likely to be—affected if the application is granted, can object to a liquor licence application.

Comments and feedback help the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming make an informed decision about whether to grant the application.

Eligibility to object

To lodge an objection, you must:

• be over 18
• live near the venue or be directly affected by the licence being granted
• have valid grounds for the objection.

Grounds for objection

Your grounds (or basis) for objection will only be valid under the Liquor Act 1992 if granting the licence may:

• cause harm from alcohol abuse and misuse or alcohol-associated violence
• negatively affect the health or safety of the public or the environment around the local premises
• cause undue offence, annoy, disturb or inconvenience people who
  • live or work in the area
  • travel to or from a place of worship, hospital or school.

How to lodge an objection

You must lodge your objection:

• in writing
• on or before the closing date on the advertisement
• and
• with the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation regional office noted in the advertisement.

A copy of your objection will be sent to the liquor licence applicant.

View applications currently advertised for public comment and the closing dates for objections.

Objecting by petition

You can submit your objection as an individual or by a group petition. A petition must include:

• an identical heading on each page that is legible to signatories and clearly states the subject matter—use this petition template as a guide
• information about each signatory's connection with the area (e.g. their home or work address)
• the petition sponsor's name (i.e. the name of the contact person who will liaise between the Commissioner and the signatories) on each sheet.

When the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) receives a valid objection, we may hold a conference. This will allow objectors to discuss their concerns with the applicant. Outcomes are then reported to the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming, who takes them into consideration when deciding whether to grant the application.

Objections conferences

Conference attendees can include:

• valid objectors
• the applicant
• an OLGR compliance officer (as Chair)
• representatives from local council or police.

They're not public meetings and the media can't attend.

At the conference:

• objectors can discuss their issues and the grounds for objection
• applicants will have the opportunity to respond to the issues raised.

Objectors can't comment in general on the public's best interests, but the Commissioner will accept and assess written submissions on public interest issues.

If the parties reach an agreement, they will be asked to sign a record of agreement. This doesn't mean the application will be granted. It's still up to the Commissioner to decide whether to grant the application, taking into account all material information and the purposes of the Liquor Act 1992.

If the parties don't reach an agreement, it is still up to the Commissioner to decide whether to grant or refuse the application.

Objectors can lodge further information in support of their objection with the Commissioner within 14 days of the conference.

Notifying parties of the outcome

The Commissioner will consider the conference report, comments from police and council and whether the application is in the public interest when deciding whether to grant or refuse an application.

OLGR will inform all parties of the outcome. If the objection was lodged by petition, only the petition sponsor will be notified and can then notify the other petitioners.

Appealing the decision

The applicant or a valid objector may appeal the Commissioner's decision to the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal (QCAT) within 28 days of the date of the letter advising of the decision.

QCAT may review the material that was before the Commissioner. Usually, no new evidence can be provided.

A submission based on public interest does not carry the right to appeal to QCAT.

Also consider...

• Find out about objecting to adult entertainment permits.
• Read about advertising requirements for liquor licence applications.
• Learn more about the requirement to have a community impact statement.
• Learn more about community comments on gaming machine licence applications.
• Search for approved Queensland liquor licensees.