L-R: Peter Peck, CEO LSA WA, John Hassell, Candidate for O’Connor Nationals WA, Mia Davies, Leader of The Nationals WA, Senator Bridget McKenzie, Deputy Leader Federal National Party, Nick Fardell, Senate Candidate Nationals WA
Peter Peck, the CEO of the Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia (LSA WA) recently met with members of the Nationals Party to discuss the Banned Drinkers Register project slated for trial in early 2019.
The trial will be the first of its kind in WA and will apply to all licensed premises in the town of Pilbara that sell takeaway alcohol.
The proposed measures would see scanning technology installed in all takeaway licensed premises that would cross check customer photo identification with the banned drinkers register and if the machine turns red, the customer would be denied the purchase.
Banned drinkers would include drunk drivers and domestic violence abusers, and if they are flagged trying to purchase alcohol their details would be shared with rehabilitation agencies. The goal is to get these people help with overcoming their alcohol issues.
Peck met with Nationals WA candidate John Hassell and Nick Fardell at a function that was also attended by Nationals Deputy Leader and Federal Minster for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation, Senator Bridget McKenzie, as well as the State Leader of the National Party, Mia Davies.
“Nationals WA candidate for O’Connor, John Hassell, was well briefed on the current state of play in the Goldfields and was very supportive of the LSA WA and the Australian Hotels Association’s (AHA) Banned Drinkers Register project which is currently being proposed for a trial in the Pilbara early next year,” said Peck.
“Nationals WA Senate candidate, Nick Fardell, was also well briefed on the unique environment the liquor industry faces in the Pilbara and was also supportive of our approach.
“It was heartening to see that the hard work by LSA WA and our members has been noticed and our key issues received and understood by key political players in regional WA.”
Peck told TheShout: “The LSA WA believes if an opportunity arises to educate our parliamentary members about the independent packaged liquor industry in WA, then we will always work with them to enable informed decision making.
“We will continue our lobbying and engagement with members and candidates of all political parties with vigour in 2019 to ensure our industry issues are not ignored during the coming Federal election.”