VCGLR NewsSummer 2014

www.vcglr.vic.gov.au

Feature articles:•InteractivemapofVictoria’sliquorlicences

•WhiteNight2014

•VCGLRcutsredtapeforlivemusicvenues

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.auVCGLR News - Summer 2014

Message from the Chief Executive OfficerJane BrockingtonWelcome to 2014 and to the first edition of the VCGLR Newsletter for the year.

I’menthusedandenergisedtobeatthestartofanewyear,andinanticipationofwhatistocome.

ItistwoyearssincewecreatedtheVCGLRtointegrategamblingandliquorregulationintoasingleentity.It’sbeenabusycoupleofyearsgettingthefoundationsrightanddeliveringindustryreforms.Thisallowsustosetoursightshigherandtransformthewayweworktobetterregulatethegamblingandliquorindustries.

TheVCGLRiscommittedtodelivertransformativechangetocreatenewwaystodobusinessforusandtheindustriesweregulate.

Thisisourfocusfor2014.Wearealwayslookingatwaystostreamlineourwork,reducecostsandtimeforindustry;atthesametimeasensuringtheintegrityoftheVictoriangamblingandliquorindustriesandminimisingharm.

AkeyelementofthisisourRedTapeReductionprogram.

ByJuly2014theVCGLRwilldelivera:

• 15percentreductionin determinationtimesforlower riskliquorlicenceapplications

• 15percentreductionin determinationtimesforlowerrisk minorgamingpermitapplications

• 25percentreductioninredtape forgamblingandliquorinquiries.

Wehavealreadyimplementedafast-trackprocessforlow-riskapplicantsforunderageeventsonlicensedpremises,whichmorethanhalvesthetimeinwhichtheapplicationhastobelodgedpriortotheevent.Inthefirstsixweeksafterthefast-trackapplicationwaslaunchedfourapplicationswereapprovedcovering12events.

Ourlicensingteamsaremakingsignificantheadwaytostreamlinetheirwork,andinturnallowyoutodobusinessbetter.

Forexample,theaveragetimeforanapplicationforapermanentliquorlicencein2011was105days,andthishasbeenreducedto78daysin2013–a25percentreduction.

In2014you’llcontinuetoseeourcomplianceinspectorsoutandabout,andIhopeyoucanmaketimetoattendaliquorforuminyourregiontohearaboutthelatestnewsthataffectsyourbusiness.

Wearealwaysinterestedtohearfromyouaswestrivetoimproveourbusinessofregulation.Ifyouhaveanyconcernsorfeedbackpleaseletusknowatcontact@vcglr.vic.gov.au-We’dlovetohearfromyou!

In this issueVCGLRCEO,JaneBrockington

MessagefromtheChiefExecutiveOfficer........................................................................................................ 2ChangesinCompliance................................................................................................................................ 3Haveyourcontactdetailschanged?................................................................................................................ 3InteractivemapofVictorianliquorlicenceslaunched........................................................................................ 4Improvementstotemporarylimitedlicenceonlineapplicationform.................................................................... 5Governmentannounceschangestotaxationandreturntoplayers.................................................................... 5Liquorlicencefeesfor2014nowdue............................................................................................................. 6Liquorlicensees:Joinyourlocalliquorforum.................................................................................................. 6WhiteNightMelbourne2014......................................................................................................................... 7Supervisioncharge:Reminderforgamingvenueoperators............................................................................... 7VCGLRcutsredtapeforlivemusicvenues...................................................................................................... 8ThankyouforcompletingtheVCGLRNewssurvey........................................................................................... 8There’sapointduringdrinkswheretheeveningcouldgoeitherway................................................................. 9

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.au VCGLR News - Summer 2014

Important datesFebruary

28 Gaming venue operatorsQuarterlypaymentofgamingmachineentitlementsdue28February

March

31 Liquor licenseesFinalduedateforpaymenttorenewlicence

April

6 All licenseesDaylightsavingsends

18 All licenseesEastertradinghoursfor18-20April

25 All licenseesANZACDayandtwo-upon25April

Gambling-related dates

Liquor-related dates

withgamingvenuesandlicensedpremisestoensuretheintegrityofbothindustries.

“Theinductionprogramequipsournewinspectorswiththeskillstoeducatelicenseesandvenueoperatorsandtoencouragetheirvoluntarycompliance,”MsLeessaid.

“Thisisallpartofournewapproachtoindustrycompliance,wherewetakeaholisticapproachbyusingeducation,preventionandencouragingvoluntarycompliance,butunderpinnedbyenforcementwhereneeded.”

Changes in Compliance Don’t be surprised if you see some fresh faces when the VCGLR’s inspectors next visit your venue.

NewinspectorsandassistantinspectorshaveundertakenanintensiveinductionprogramduringDecember,justintimeforthebusiestperiodoftheyear.

ThenewinspectorshavehitthegroundrunningintheirnewcareerswiththeVCGLR.

ComplianceDirectorKarenLeessaidtheVCGLR’sresponsibilityforminimisingharmandenforcingcompliancemeantinspectorsworked

Follow us on Twittertwitter.com/vcglr

address.Failuretodosocanresultindisciplinaryaction.

Thesamerequirementappliestoanyapprovednomineesandassociates.

Gaming industry employeesTheVCGLRmustbenotifiedofanychangestothelicensingconditionsofagamingindustryemployeewithin14daysofthechange,includingchangeofaddress.Failuretodosocanresultindisciplinaryaction.

Gamingindustryemployeescanemailanychanges,alongwiththeirlicencenumber,tocontact@vcglr.vic.gov.auorupdatetheircontactdetailsviatheOnlineServicesPortal.PleasecontacttheVCGLRifyourequireassistancewithyourUsernameandPasswordforthePortal.

Have your contact details changed? It is important to let us know if your postal address or telephone number changes to ensure you receive necessary regulatory information from the VCGLR.

Pleaseemailanychangestoyourcontactdetails,alongwithyourlicenceorvenueoperatornumber,tocontact@vcglr.vic.gov.au.

Venueoperators,bingocentreoperators,commercialraffleorganisers,registeredbookmakersandpersonslistedontheRollofmanufacturers,suppliersandtestersareremindedthatanychangetotheapprovedlicenceconditionsisrequiredtobereportedtotheVCGLRwithin14daysincludinganychangetotheirregisteredaddressorbusiness

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.auVCGLR News - Summer 2014

(LtoR)VicHealthCEO,JerrilRechter,ESTACEOKenShymanski,VCGLRCEO,JaneBrockingtonandVCGLRChairman,BruceThompson

PeterYoon&SandipShrestha,VCGLR CarmelDuffy,VCGLREmmaSaleeba,VicHealthandPeterMiller,DeakinUniversity

Interactivemapvideo

New interactive map of Victorian liquor licences launched

The Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation Edward O’Donohue and the VCGLR, in partnership with VicHealth, have launched a new easy-to-use interactivemap of Victorian liquor licences.

FundedbyVicHealth,thismapisusefulforlocalcouncils,governmentagenciesandresearchers,to:

• planandassessliquorlicenceapplications

• researchanddevelopwaystoreducealcoholrelatedharminthecommunity

• targethigh-riskareasforcomplianceandenforcementaction.

TheEmergencyServicesTelecommunicationsAuthority(ESTA)alsoplayedakeypartintheprojectbyprovidinggeo-codingexpertise.Inreturn,wegaveESTAaccesstoourliquorlicensingdata.

ThisdatanowallowsTripleZero(000)operatorstoquicklylocateanemergencycallfromalicensedpremises.

Thelaunch,heldattheVCGLR,wasattendedbyVicHealth,ESTA,MunicipalAssociationofVictoria,TurningPoint,CityofMelbourne,CaseyCityCouncilandotherkeystakeholders.

Theprojectisagreatexampleofinter-agencycooperationandbuildsontheVCGLR’scommitmenttobeamodern,efficient,highperformingandnetworkedregulator.

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.au VCGLR News - Summer 2014

Improvements to temporary limited licence online application form The VCGLR is committed to improving operations and reducing red tape for the business and not-for-profit sectors.

Inlinewiththiscommitment,liquorlicenseeswillsoonnoticeanimprovedtemporarylimitedlicenceonlineapplicationformtomakeonlinelodgementsimplerandeasierforapplicants.Businesses,clubsandotherorganisationswantingtoholdthefollowingcanapplyforatemporarylimitedliquorlicence.

ThisreformispartofaraftofimprovementsthattheVCGLRiscurrentlyimplementingaspartoftheitscommitmenttotheVictorianGovernment’sobjectiveofreducingredtapeonthebusinessandnot-for-profitsectorsby25percentbyJuly2014.

TheVCGLRcontinuestoworktowardsmeetingthekeytargetssetoutbytheMinisterforLiquorandGamingRegulationintheStatementofExpectations(SOE),issuedtotheVCGLRon25March2013.

TheSOE,theVCGLR’sresponsetotheMinister’sSOEandfurtherinformationabouttheVCGLR’sinitiativestoreduceredtapecanfoundonourwebsite.

• Aoneoffeventsuchasa21stbirthday,wedding,trivianight,presentationnightorball

• Aboothatasportingevent

• Anextensionoftradinghoursorlicensedareaforaoneoffeventthatdoesnotrelatetoamajoreventinthearea

• Thesupplyofliquoratamarketbyaproducer

• TheatreProduction

• Internetsales,mailorders,winedrive,gifthampers.

TheonlineformwillnowaskmoretargetedquestionstospeeduptheprocessingofapplicationsbyminimisingtheneedforfollowupactivitybytheVCGLR.

Government announces changes to taxation and return to players

AdditionalinformationisavailableintheElectronicgamingmachinetaxreformsfactsheetfromtheDepartmentofTreasuryandFinancewebsite.

The Treasurer recently announced proposals to amend the taxation arrangements for electronic gaming machines in gaming venues as well as the minimum amount returned to players on electronic gaming machines.

Thechangesaresubjecttothesuccessfulpassageoflegislation.

TheTreasurerhasannouncedthefollowingchanges,whichareintendedtotakeeffectfrom1April2014:

• Thetoptwotaxbracketsforhotelandclubvenueoperatorswillbeincreasedby4.2percentagepoints.

• Theminimumreturntoplayerratiowillbereducedfrom87percentto85percent.

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.auVCGLR News - Summer 2014

The law

TheVCGLRwillissueyournewliquorlicenceafterpaymenthasbeenmade.Youarerequiredtodisplayyourexistinglicenceatyourpremisesuntilyoureceiveyour2014liquorlicence.

LiquorlicenseesandBYOpermitholderspleasenotethatundertheLiquor Control Reform Act 1998,aliquorlicenceauthorisesthelawfulsupplyofliquorandremainsinforceforthedurationofthecalendaryearforwhichanannualfeehasbeenpaid.

IfyoudonothavearenewalnoticefromtheStateRevenueOffice,orifyouhaveanyqueries,pleasecontactusbytelephoneon1300182457,oremailcontact@vcglr.vic.gov.au,orwritetousatGPOBox1988,Melbourne3001.

Youmayalsovisitourwebsiteifyourequiremoreinformation.

Liquor licence fees for 2014 due

Eligible new applicants and licensees renewing their liquor licence for 2014 should have received a liquor licence/permit renewal notice from the State Revenue Office prior to 31 December 2013. The fee set out in the notice for 2014 became payable on 1 January 2014 and payment must be made before a 2014 licence can be issued.

Ifyouintendsupplyingliquorin2014,youcanonlydosobypayingtheannualrenewalfeedescribedinthenotice.FeesarepayabletotheStateRevenueOfficeandcanbemadethroughanybank,creditunionorbuildingsociety,throughthemail,byVisaorMasterCard,orinpersonatLevel2,121ExhibitionStreet,Melbourne.PaymentscannotbemadeviaEFT.

Liquor licensees: Join your local liquor forum

Licenseeswhoattendliquorforumshavetheopportunitytokeepup-to-datewithchangestoliquorlawsandgettoknowlocalVictoriaPolicelicensinginspectors,localcouncilmembersandVCGLRrepresentatives,aswellasbenefitfrominformation-sharingwithintheindustry.

Tofindoutmoreaboutattendingyourlocalliquorforum,pleaseemailaccords@vcglr.vic.gov.auorcall1300182457.

There are more than 80 liquor forums and accords across metropolitan and regional Victoria. Liquor forums bring together interested parties from the liquor industry to develop strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve the operation of licensed premises.

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.au VCGLR News - Summer 2014

TheeventwilltakeplaceintheCityofMelbourne,whereMinisterialGuidelineslimitthesupplyofliquorbysomelicenseesafter1am.LicenseesparticipatinginWhiteNightwererequestedtoapplytotheVCGLRby10January,foratemporarylimitedlicence.

White Night Melbourne 2014Aswellashospitality,around500,000visitorsareexpectedtoenjoytheentertainmentinthefestival’stwomainhubs.OnehubwillbelocatedtothenorthoftheCBD,aroundtheStateLibraryandMelbourneCityBaths,andtheotheratthesouthernendofSwanstonStreet,aroundFederationSquareandalongtotheNationalGalleryofVictoria.

Inbetweenthehubswillbetwomusicstages–“NorthernLights”,curatedbytheCatEmpire’sFelixRiebl,and“J+RnB”,therenamedjazzandbluesstageintheBourkeStreetMall.

PartofVictoria’sMajorEventsStrategy,WhiteNightwascreated,andissupported,bytheStateGovernmentofVictoria.

YoucanreadmoreaboutWhiteNightMelbourneattheeventwebsite.

White Night Melbourne, now in its second year, is a major event for Melbourne, inspired by the Paris’ Nuit Blanche, the international network of 20 cities around the world.

’WhiteNight’willbeheldbetween7pmonSaturday22Februaryand7amonSunday23February2014,showcasingarangeoffreeartandculturalactivitiesinavarietyofMelbourneCBDlocations,cateringtopeopleofallages,andcelebratingtheculturaldiversityofMelbourne.

TheVCGLRhasworkedcloselywithWhiteNighteventorganiserstocoordinateplanningandcommunicationtolicenseeswhowishtoparticipateinWhiteNight.

FurtherinformationcanbefoundontheOnlineServicesPortal.Ifyouhaveanyqueriesaboutyoursupervisioncharge,pleasecontacttheVCGLRon1300182457orbyemailcontact@vcglr.vic.gov.au

Supervision charge: Reminder for gaming venue operators The supervision charge is calculated:

Per entitlement unit charge

Gaming venue operators have been sent their supervision charge invoices, which are due to be paid by 6 June 2014. Late penalties apply if venues do not pay by this date. ThesupervisionchargeappliestotheperiodfromAugust2012toJune2013.ThechargewillbeusedtorecoverthecostsofregulatingthegamingindustryinVictoria.

Seehowitworksinthefollowingtable.

X thenumber of entitlements held by thevenue operator

+Per operating electronic gamingmachine unit charge X the numberof operating gaming machines heldby the venue operator.

AstheVCGLRmonitorsandregulatesthegamingindustry,itisinthebestpositiontocollectthechargefromtheownersandpasstherevenueontoTreasury.

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.auVCGLR News - Summer 2014

VCGLR cuts red tape for live music venuesThe Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) has cut red tape and streamlined the requirements that liquor licensees must meet when holding live music events for young people.

VCGLRChairmanBruceThompsonsaidthatthesearecommonsenseandpracticalreformswhichcomeaftermuchconsultationwithstakeholdersandcommunity–includingtheVictorianGovernment,VictoriaPolice,localgovernment,licenseesandthemusicindustry.

“Theresearchandconsultationweundertookleadinguptothesereformshasshownthesetypesofeventsaregenerallyverywellrunandlowrisk,”MrThompsonsaid.

ThereformswerepromptedafterVictoria’slivemusicindustryraisedconcernswiththeVCGLRattheVictorianGovernment’sLiveMusicRoundtable,indicatingthatthepreviousapproachmadeitdifficultforeventstobeorganised.

ChangesintroducedbytheVCGLRtoitspolicyandadministrativeprocesses,effective20November2013,include:

• anewfasttrackapplicationforlowriskunderageevents

• changestothestandardconditionsforunderageevents

millionpatronsayear,andwehopethisreformwillplayitspartinsustainingthatvibrantandhealthyactivity.”

TheVCGLR’snewmeasurescomplementthegovernment’sNovemberannouncementthatitwilllegislatetoremovetherequirementforlicenseestoapplytotheVCGLRforapprovaltohostunderageandmixedagedlivemusicevents.ThereformsprovideanimmediatesolutiontosupportlivemusicinVictoria,whilethelegislativereformscontinuetobedeveloped.

MoredetailsaboutthereformscanbefoundontheVCGLRwebsite.

• anewcategoryofalcohol-freeyoutheventswhichareforpatronsbetween12and25yearsofage.

VCGLRCEOJaneBrockingtonsaidthereformswouldprovideanimmediatesolutiontosupportlivemusicinVictoria,whilethelegislativereformsarebeingdeveloped.

“It’sanindustrythatprovidesadirecteconomiccontributionof$300milliontotheVictorianeconomyandemploystheequivalentofaround15,000fulltimejobs,”MsBrockingtonsaid.

“AttendanceatVictorianlivemusicvenuesisestimatedataround5.4

Asaresultofyourfeedback,wewillbemakingsomepositivechangestothenewsletteroverthecomingeditions.

Wehopeyouenjoythenewandimprovednewsletterduring2014.Weencourageyoutocontinuetosendyourcommentsandsuggestionstocontact@vcglr.vic.gov.auortelephone1300182457.

Thank you for completing the VCGLR News surveyThank you to everyone who took part in the VCGLR News readership survey.

YourvaluablefeedbackwillhelpustocontinuetomaketheVCGLRNewsaninformativeandtimelysourceofinformationforboththeliquorandgamblingindustries.

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www.vcglr.vic.gov.au VCGLR News - Summer 2014

VicHealth: Name that pointThere’s a point during drinks where the evening could go either wayWe all know this point. Where one more drink could set you on the road to drunkenness. The point’s different for everyone, but everyone has one. VicHealth thinks if people could recognise this point, they might start to make better drinking decisions.

HereinliesthefoundationforVicHealth’snewcampaign,‘NamethatPoint’,whichencouragespeopletochallengetheprominentplaceofalcoholinourculturebystartinganopenandhonestdiscussionaboutit.

Runningacrossthesummermonths,theNamethatPointcampaigninvitesVictorianstowin$5,000bynamingthepointatwhich

clearthinkingturnsintomoredrinking,headaches,emptywallets–andworse.Weeklywinnerswillshareincashprizesandanoverallwinnerwillbeannouncedattheendofsummer.

Whileaimedatyoungpeopleagedbetween16and29yearsold,allVictoriansareinvitedtoNamethatPointanddiscussalcoholanditsplaceinourwidercommunityonline,onthecampaignwebsiteandFacebookpage.

TheNamethatPointcampaigntakesapositiveapproach.That’sbecauseweknowthatmanypeopledrinkresponsiblyandenjoyhavingadrinkortwo,andsonegativescarecampaignsdon’talwaysresonatewiththosewhoconsiderthey’renotatthatextreme“binge”endofthespectrum.

NamethatPointinvitesVictorianstoreflectonalcoholanditsplaceintheirlivesandthewidercommunity.VicHealthwillthenusethesefindingstoinformphasetwooftheprojectfromMaythisyear.

Topushtheconversationalong,VicHealthneedsasmanypeopleaspossibletoknowaboutthewebsite–whichiswhereyoucomein.

Ifyouownavenue,VicHealthhassomegreatcoasterstosendyou(pleasenoteanexamplebelow).VicHealthisalsoworkingwith

RockPostersandhave1metrex1.5metrepostersavailableforyourvenue(examplesleftandbelow).JustcontactVicHealthviainfo@namethatpoint.comtoorder.

VicHealthhasalsocreatedonlineadsyoumightliketodisplayonyourwebsiteaswellasavideo(seeabove)youarewelcometoshareacrossyourchannels.Youcanalsofollow@namethatpointonTwitterandsharepostsonFacebook.

NamethatPointisajointinitiativeofVicHealthandtheStateGovernmentofVictoriaasakeypartoftheirstrategy“Reducingthealcoholanddrugtoll:Victoria’splan2013–2017.

This publication avoids the use of legal language. Information about the law may have been summarised or expressed in general statements. This information should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice or reference to the actual legislation.

Published and authorised by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, 49 Elizabeth Street, Richmond.

© State of Victoria, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, 2014.

49 Elizabeth Street, Richmond 3121GPO Box 1988, Melbourne 3001

1300 182 457contact@vcglr.vic.gov.au www.vcglr.vic.gov.au