Industry Updates

WA POLICE CHARGE FOR SERVICES AT MAJOR EVENTS

The EIA will be coordinating an event in the near future where the MECU (Major Events Coordination Unit) will present the policy. A Q and A session will follow for the benefit of those attending that may have queries on any aspects.

Amendments to the Police Act 1982 have been passed through Parliament allowing the Commissioner of Police to charge on a cost-recovery basis for the attendance of police officers at major sporting or entertainment events.

Regulations for this legislation are currently being written after which the legislation will be proclaimed and become operational. This is anticipated to occur later in the year.

Terms used:

'EVENT'; means an event:

• Of a sporting or entertainment nature where a charge is made for admission to the event or participation in the event; or
• The event is run for commercial gain; or
• The event is promoted, advertised or sponsored under a commercial arrangement

'MAJOR EVENT'; means an event:

• That is reasonably expected by the promoter or organiser, or the Commissioner of Police, to attract at least 5 000 attendees or participants; or
• For which the Commissioner of police reasonably considers it necessary or desirable to assign at least 10 police officers to provide police services.

Costs for the above services will be at a standard hourly rate regardless of the rank of the officer. At this stage the fee will be $90.20 per hour.

The Minister for Police may exempt certain events from the charging of the fee. This and other information will be detailed in the Police Charging for Services Policy. The Policy sets out matters the Commissioner of Police will take into consideration in determining the number of officers required to attend an event and if the fee will be waived. The Policy will be made publicly available.

WA Police will be consulting with the events industry on a regular basis regarding the progress of the legislation – and the EIA will update the membership accordingly.

LIQUOR LICENSING CHANGES TO APPROVED MANAGERS

The amendments to the Liquor Control Act which took effect in 2007 have required an approved manager to be present on licensed premises during trading hours.  Every approved manager must complete a course of training approved by the Director of Liquor Licensing and been deemed ‘fit and proper’ in accordance with the Act.

Currently, managers are only authorised to manage specified premises.  An application must be made if that person wishes to manage another premise.

The current system is seen as restrictive and unnecessarily time consuming.  Consequently, recent changes to the Liquor Control Act 1988 have been enacted to allow the licensing authority to alter the situation.  The new framework will focus on the individual manager rather than the premises and will establish two categories of managers: ‘restricted’ and ‘unrestricted’.

Those persons managing a club, club restricted or occasional licence will only be required to have completed the Responsible Service of Alcohol course and will become a ‘restricted manager’. Those persons managing any other kind of licence will need to have completed the full Course in Liquor Licensing and will become known as an ‘unrestricted manager’.  Unrestricted managers will have the freedom to move between sites without prior approval from the licensing authority.

Managers who are already employed at licensed premises who have completed the Course in Liquor Licensing will automatically be approved as unrestricted managers and may have already received a letter from the Department of Racing, Gaming & Liquor, either personally or at the licensed premises outlining these upcoming changes. These letters request current approved managers to update their personal details in order for a card to be issued (not unlike a driver’s license) which confirms their status to act as approved managers by DRGL. Approved managers will then show their card as requested and can move from site to site as necessary.

For these people for whom DRGL already has in their system, a login will automatically be provided to enable them to enter the website for issuance of the card. Managers currently approved by DRGL will issued a card free of charge; new applicants will be charged.

The EIA encourages all current approved managers to follow this process; not only will it assist to ensure compliance but it will also save future costs. For further information please refer to the Department of Racing, Gaming & Liquor on 9425 1888 or www.rgl.wa.gov.au.

This information is general in nature and should not be used definitively.