LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS —
KIMBERLEY
1031. Hon KEN BASTON to the minister representing the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the answer to question
without notice 967 regarding the restrictions on the sale of packaged alcohol
in Kununurra and Wyndham.
(1) Can the minister confirm that residents of those
locations can order unrestricted amounts of packaged liquor online from
metropolitan retailers and have it delivered to Kununurra and Wyndham via
Australia Post?
(2) Is a process in place to monitor
this activity?
(3) If yes to
(1), could the minister please provide an explanation of why Kununurra and
Wyndham retailers are not allowed to fill orders that are above the daily
restrictions and made 72 hours in advance without an occasional licence while
online businesses can?
Hon
SAMANTHA ROWE replied:
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the
Minister for Regional Development, the following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Racing and Gaming.
(1) The Liquor
Control Act 1988 provides for the director of Liquor Licensing to impose
conditions on licensees restricting the sale and supply of liquor. Such
restrictions are location-based and apply to the licensees in a determined area
of the state.
Although residents in localities
where restrictions are in place may purchase packaged liquor online in excess
of the restricted amounts, it is understood that some licensees that sell
liquor online restrict online purchases from
postcodes where restrictions are in place. Online orders are not limited to
Perth metropolitan retailers and can be placed with any liquor merchant
licensed outside the state.
(2) No, there is
no process in place to monitor the online purchasing activity of individuals.
However, the government is consulting with stakeholders to develop protections
in the delivery of liquor ordered, which could include online orders.
(3) The Liquor
Control (Section 31) (Kimberley) Notice 2020, issued by the director of Liquor
Licensing on 15 May 2020, does not contain a 72-hour exemption and prevails
while the state of emergency declaration is in place. The notice is only
applicable to licensees in the Kimberley region and does not apply to licensees
outside of the region.