The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation in Queensland (OLGR) has reminded licensees who operate mandatory ID scanners at their venues that there are new rules in place.
The rules, which came into effect last week, mean that there are changes, with an easing on the occasions and times when IDs need to be scanned.
Licensees no longer have to scan patrons:
- on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights provided they stop selling liquor by 1am
- when they re-enter their venue – provided the venue has a suitable re-entry pass system.
The regulator said: “Although approval from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) is not required for your pass-out system, your local OLGR representatives are available to review it against the legislative requirements and provide any feedback.
“Remember, regulated licensees are still required to scan patrons from 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the day before a public holiday, if they are authorised to sell liquor after 12 midnight during that trading period.
“We will be contacting Safe Night Precinct (SNP) local boards about opportunities for OLGR staff to present and answer any questions relating to these changes.
“Compliance officers will also take the opportunity to speak with your on-duty managers as they visit venues over coming weeks.”
The Queensland Hotels Association (QHA), has welcomed the move as a step in the right direction. QHA CEO, Bernie Hogan told Australian Hotelier: “The QHA have worked constantly with the Queensland Government to arrive at a compromise that better reflects the needs of the industry whilst remaining in line with the current policy. The extra costs that ID Scanning incurred to members across the state were unnecessary every night of the year and it is pleasing to see that the Government has, through consultation with industry, agreed that there is no safer place to be than in a licensed venue in Queensland.”
“QHA believe this is a step in the right direction, showing that violent attacks have been on the decline for years and that the hotel industry, despite the myriad of confusing regulations regarding ID Scanning, Safe Night Precincts, Extended Trading hours and drink categories that can be sold post-midnight, still provide one of the best experiences for locals and tourists across the state.”
If anyone has questions relating to these changes you should contact your local OLGR office, details below:
| Regional office | Phone | Email address |
| Cairns | 4280 6200 | ll.cairns@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Mackay (Mackay, Airlie Beach) | 4889 8466 | ll.mackay@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) | 5376 7318 | ll.sunshinecoast@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Rockhampton(Rockhampton, Gladstone) | 4923 8700 | ll.rockhampton@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Gold Coast (Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise) | 5676 1833 | ll.goldcoast@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Toowoomba | 4591 8308 | ll.toowoomba@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Townsville | 4758 5708 | ll.townsville@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Brisbane (CBD, Inner west, Ipswich, Fortitude Valley) | 3738 8425 | liquorcompliance@justice.qld.gov.au |
| Hervey Bay (Bundaberg) | 4120 6706 | ll.widebay@justice.qld.gov.au |