Published Friday, 05 September, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Treasurer
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Normanby Hotel fined, trading hours cut
5 September 2008
Management of a prominent Brisbane hotel have failed in their appeal against a raft of Liquor Licensing disciplinary actions and have been issued fines totaling $22,000 along with several additional conditions, including a cut to trading hours.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal decision meant that the Normanby Hotel can no longer trade between 3am and 5am, effective from this Sunday.
“The Tribunal agreed that the licensee had failed to adequately maintain a safe environment and shown an inability to control the noise and behaviour of its patrons in and around the venue between 3am to 5am,” said Mr Fraser, who is also the local MP.
Additionally, Mr Fraser said the Tribunal had ordered management dramatically restrict the use of its car park as an outdoors area and give surrounding residents advance notice of up coming events.
“This decision should stand as a warning to any licensed venue – trading at any time is a privilege, not a right,” Mr Fraser said.
“The Bligh Government will not hesitate to crack down on any licensed premises that do not meet their obligations for responsible service, no matter if they are located in remote Cape York or the Brisbane CBD.”
The Tribunal decision includes:
? A total of $22,000 in fines relating to four breaches of the Liquor Act
? A curtailing of the use of the Normanby car park as an entertainment area, restricting management to using the outdoor area to 15 nights a year
? A ban on glass containers and live entertainment in the car park
? A requirement that management letter box drop residents and businesses within a 500 metre radius prior to staging any event in the car park
? Cancellation of the venue’s 3am to 5am licence from midnight on 7 September
Although the Tribunal declined to enforce some conditions – including a suspension of the hotel’s license and a ban on advertising for the venue’s Sunday sessions – this decision is significant and wide-ranging.
“There was a litany of allegations against the Normanby, including an unacceptable level of violent incidents, anti-social behaviour of patrons, the supply of liquor to intoxicated people, unauthorised use of the car park area, noise and undue disturbance to the local community.
“In reaching this decision, the Tribunal considered evidence supporting the allegations from the police, Liquor Licensing officers and local community members.”
The Tribunal decision comes after a long-running legal process that started in February when Liquor Licensing officers issued management with a Show Cause notice as to why the venue’s license should not be suspended and other disciplinary action taken.
Management subsequently appealed and the matter proceeded to a hearing but Mr Fraser said the Tribunal findings were a vindication of the government’s initial decision to take action against the Normanby after the allegations including a string of violent incidents.
“I announced in the Parliament earlier this year this was a critical disciplinary action after a string of allegations involving the hotel.
“I don’t revel in taking action against venues but licensees need to meet their obligations.
“This has been an on-going matter for some time now and is in direct response to both government and community concerns, particularly among residents who live in close proximity to the venue.
“At the time of the Show Cause notice in February, Liquor Licensing investigators had documented over 50 incidents in and around the hotel, including allegations of attacks on patrons and high levels of intoxication among patrons.”
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
Management of a prominent Brisbane hotel have failed in their appeal against a raft of Liquor Licensing disciplinary actions and have been issued fines totaling $22,000 along with several additional conditions, including a cut to trading hours.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal decision meant that the Normanby Hotel can no longer trade between 3am and 5am, effective from this Sunday.
“The Tribunal agreed that the licensee had failed to adequately maintain a safe environment and shown an inability to control the noise and behaviour of its patrons in and around the venue between 3am to 5am,” said Mr Fraser, who is also the local MP.
Additionally, Mr Fraser said the Tribunal had ordered management dramatically restrict the use of its car park as an outdoors area and give surrounding residents advance notice of up coming events.
“This decision should stand as a warning to any licensed venue – trading at any time is a privilege, not a right,” Mr Fraser said.
“The Bligh Government will not hesitate to crack down on any licensed premises that do not meet their obligations for responsible service, no matter if they are located in remote Cape York or the Brisbane CBD.”
The Tribunal decision includes:
? A total of $22,000 in fines relating to four breaches of the Liquor Act
? A curtailing of the use of the Normanby car park as an entertainment area, restricting management to using the outdoor area to 15 nights a year
? A ban on glass containers and live entertainment in the car park
? A requirement that management letter box drop residents and businesses within a 500 metre radius prior to staging any event in the car park
? Cancellation of the venue’s 3am to 5am licence from midnight on 7 September
Although the Tribunal declined to enforce some conditions – including a suspension of the hotel’s license and a ban on advertising for the venue’s Sunday sessions – this decision is significant and wide-ranging.
“There was a litany of allegations against the Normanby, including an unacceptable level of violent incidents, anti-social behaviour of patrons, the supply of liquor to intoxicated people, unauthorised use of the car park area, noise and undue disturbance to the local community.
“In reaching this decision, the Tribunal considered evidence supporting the allegations from the police, Liquor Licensing officers and local community members.”
The Tribunal decision comes after a long-running legal process that started in February when Liquor Licensing officers issued management with a Show Cause notice as to why the venue’s license should not be suspended and other disciplinary action taken.
Management subsequently appealed and the matter proceeded to a hearing but Mr Fraser said the Tribunal findings were a vindication of the government’s initial decision to take action against the Normanby after the allegations including a string of violent incidents.
“I announced in the Parliament earlier this year this was a critical disciplinary action after a string of allegations involving the hotel.
“I don’t revel in taking action against venues but licensees need to meet their obligations.
“This has been an on-going matter for some time now and is in direct response to both government and community concerns, particularly among residents who live in close proximity to the venue.
“At the time of the Show Cause notice in February, Liquor Licensing investigators had documented over 50 incidents in and around the hotel, including allegations of attacks on patrons and high levels of intoxication among patrons.”
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874