How an objection to a liquor licence or adult entertainment permit application is processed

Once the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) receives a valid objection, a conference chaired by an OLGR licensing officer may be held. This allows objectors and the applicant to discuss the application and concerns. Information is then reported back to the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming.

Conference process

Any objector at the conference must be a valid objector, which means they must have lodged their objection in writing before the due date. Attendees could also be from local council or police. This is not a public meeting and media are unable to attend.

At the conference, objectors can discuss their issues and the grounds for their objection (i.e. annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience) but cannot provide general comment on the public's best interest. The applicant will be given the opportunity to respond to the issues put forward.

However, written submissions on local public interest issues are accepted by the Commissioner for independent assessment.

If agreement is reached between the parties, they will be asked to sign a document recording the agreement. This does not mean the application will be granted as it is ultimately up to the Commissioner to determine.

Any additional information in support of the objection(s) should be lodged with the Commissioner within 14 days of the conference.

Notification of outcome

When making the decision to grant - or refuse - an application, the Commissioner considers any conference report, comments from police and council and whether the application is in the public interest.

All parties, including the objectors, are informed of the outcome. If the objection was lodged in the form of a petition, only the petition sponsor will be notified (who may then notify the other petitioners).

Appealing a decision

The applicant or a valid objector may appeal the outcome to the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal (QCAT) within 28 days of the decision being provided.

QCAT may conduct a review of the material before the Commissioner. Usually, no new evidence can be admitted at this time but there are some circumstances where QCAT may consider it.

Lodgement of a submission on public interest does not allow for the right to appeal to QCAT.

Also consider...

• Read about advertising requirements for liquor licence applications.
• Learn more about community comments on gaming machine licence applications.