Australian Capital Territory
Business Franchise (Liquor) Act 1993
A1993-17
Republication No 1
Effective:  28 February 1999 – 30 November 1999
Republication date: 29 January 2008
Last amendment made by A1999-5
(republication for amendments by A1998-54 and A1999-5)

Unauthorised version prepared by ACT Parliamentary Counsel’s Office

About this republication
The republished law
This is a republication of the Business Franchise (Liquor) Act 1993 effective from 28 February 1999 to 30 November 1999. 
Kinds of republications
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):
•	authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies
•	unauthorised republications.
The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.
Editorial changes
The Legislation (Republication) Act 1996, part 3, division 2 authorised the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.  Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation (Republication) Act 1996, s 14 and s 16).  The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.  
In preparing this republication, amendments have not been made under section 13.

Australian Capital Territory
business franchise (liquor) act 1993
This consolidation has been prepared by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel’s Office
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section
part I—preliminary
	1.	Short title
	2.	Commencement
	3.	Interpretation
	4.	Liquor Act definitions
	5.	Incorporation of the Administration Act
	6.	Administration
	7.	Exemption of Universities and Canberra Theatre Trust
part ii—liability for fees
Division 1—Quarterly franchise fees
	8.	Liability
	9.	Amount payable—general
	10.	Amount payable—second quarter following issue of licence
Division 2—Initial fees
	11.	Liability
Division 3—Refund of fees on surrender
	12.	Amounts refunded on surrender
Division 4—Unlicensed liquor traders
	13.	Liability for fees

PART III—returns and payments
	14.	Time for lodgment of returns and payment
	15.	Suspension and cancellation—failure to pay fees and penalties
Part iv—fees payable by universities and the 
canberra theatre trust
	16.	Application
	17.	Payments
Part v—records and certificates of liquor transactions
Division 1—Records
	18.	Records of liquor transactions
Division 2—Certificates
	19.	Annual lodgment
	20.	Lodgment on transfer or termination of licences
	21.	Universities and the Canberra Theatre Trust
part vI—role of executive
	22.	Exempt wholesale licences
	23.	Determination of types of liquor
	24.	Regulations
part VII—repeal, transitional, saving
	25.	Repeal
	26.	Transitional
	27.	Saving—continuing licences

Australian Capital Territory
business franchise (liquor) act 1993
An Act to provide for the payment of fees for liquor trading
part i—preliminary
1. 	Short title
	This Act may be cited as the Business Franchise (Liquor) Act 1993.1
2.  	Commencement
(1) 	Section 1 and this section commence on the day on which this Act is notified in the Gazette.
(2) 	The remaining provisions commence on 17 March 1993.
3. 	Interpretation
	In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—
“Administration Act” means the Taxation Administration Act 1999;
“approved form” means the form approved by the Commissioner for the purposes of the provision in which the expression occurs;
“authorised University building” means a building which is occupied by—
	(a)	a University; or
	(b)	a residential college affiliated with a University under a Statute of that University;
being a building in which the sale of liquor is authorised by a Statute of that University;
“base quarter”, in relation to a quarter in respect of which a quarterly franchise fee is payable, means the quarter which is 2 quarters previous to that quarter;
“determined amount” means the amount determined by the Minister under section 139 of the Administration Act for the purposes of the provision in which the expression occurs;
“determined rate” means the rate determined by the Minister under section 139 of the Administration Act for the purposes of the provision in which the expression occurs;
“determined type of liquor” means a type of liquor determined by the Minister under section 23;
“due date”, in respect of a quarter, means 17 March, 16 June, 16 September or 17 December before that quarter;
“duties” means any tax or duties imposed under a law of the Commonwealth;
“exempt sales” means liquor (whenever purchased) sold by wholesale to—
	(a)	a licensee;
	(b)	a person who, under the law of a State or another Territory, is authorised to sell liquor;
	(c)	a permit holder;
	(d)	a person for duty-free sale;
	(e)	a University for sale, or exposure for sale, in an authorised University building;
	(f)	the Canberra Theatre Trust for sale, or exposure for sale, in the Canberra Theatre Centre; or
	(g)	an exempt person;
“exempt wholesale licence” means an Off Licence declared under section 22;
“initial fee”, in relation to an application for a licence, means the fee assessed by the Commissioner under section 11 in relation to the application;
“Liquor Act” means the Liquor Act 1975;
“quarter”, in any year, means a period of 3 months ending on the last day of March, June, September or December in that year;
“quarterly franchise fee”, in relation to a licence in force during a quarter, means the licence fee under Division 1 of Part II for that quarter;
“wholesale liquor purchases” means—
	(a)	liquor purchased for the purpose of sale or exposure for sale;
	(b)	in relation to a University—liquor purchased for sale, or exposure for sale, in an authorised University building; or
	(c)	in relation to the Canberra Theatre Trust—liquor purchased for sale, or exposure for sale, in the Canberra Theatre Centre.
4. 	Liquor Act definitions
	Unless the contrary intention appears, a word or expression used in this Act has the same meaning as in the Liquor Act.
5.	Incorporation of the Administration Act
	The Administration Act is incorporated and shall be read as one with this Act.
6. 	Administration
	The Commissioner has the general administration of this Act.
7. 	Exemption of Universities and Canberra Theatre Trust
	Parts II and III do not apply to—
	(a)	a University; or
	(b)	the Canberra Theatre Trust.
part ii—liability for fees
Division 1—Quarterly franchise fees
8. 	Liability
(1) 	A licensee is liable to pay the quarterly franchise fee for each quarter during which the licence is in force in the name of the licensee, except for—
	(a)	the quarter in which the licence is issued and the following quarter; or
	(b)	the quarter (if any) in which the licence was transferred to the licensee.
(2) 	Subsection (1) applies irrespective of whether the licensee holds the licence during the whole or a part of the quarter. 
9. 	Amount payable—general
(1) 	Subject to section 10, the quarterly franchise fee payable by a licensee for a quarter is—
	(a)	in the case of an exempt wholesale licence—the determined amount plus the aggregate of the amounts in relation to each determined type of liquor traded under the licence, the amount for each determined type of liquor being calculated in accordance with the formula in subsection (2); or
	(b)	in any other case—
	(i)	the determined amount; or
	(ii)	the aggregate of the amounts in relation to each determined type of liquor traded under the licence, each such amount being calculated in accordance with the formula in subsection (2);
 whichever is greater.
(2) 	For the purposes of subsection (1), the formula is—
(WLP_ES) x DR
where—
	WLP	is the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable for wholesale liquor purchases of the determined type of liquor in the base quarter in the course of trading under the licence;
	ES	is the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable for exempt sales of the determined type of liquor in the base quarter in the course of trading under the licence; and
	DR	is the determined rate for the determined type of liquor.
(3) 	In this section, a reference to liquor traded under the licence is to be read as including a reference to all such liquor irrespective of whether the person liable to pay the quarterly franchise fee was the licensee at the time of such trading. 
10. 	Amount payable—second quarter following issue of licence
(1) 	The quarterly franchise fee for the second quarter following the quarter in which a licence is issued is the amount of a quarterly franchise fee calculated under section 9 on the basis of the Commissioner’s estimate of liquor trading under the licence for a typical quarter, having regard to—
	(a)	in relation to liquor trading under the licence in the base quarter—
	(i)	if the licence took effect from the first day of the base quarter, and liquor trading was continuous during that quarter—the aggregate of amounts paid or payable by the licensee for liquor traded in that quarter, and the nature of such trading; or	
	(ii)	if liquor trading was not continuous during the whole of the base quarter—the Commissioner’s estimate of the aggregate of amounts likely to have been payable by the licensee for liquor traded in the base quarter if trading had been continuous, and the likely nature of such trading; and
	(b)	in relation to liquor trading under the licence in the quarter following the base quarter—
	(i)	if liquor trading was continuous during the whole of that quarter—the Commissioner’s estimate of the aggregate of amounts paid or payable by the licensee for liquor traded in that quarter, and the nature of such trading; or
	(ii)	if liquor trading was not continuous during the whole of that quarter—the Commissioner’s estimate of the aggregate of amounts likely to have been payable by the licensee for liquor traded in that quarter if trading had been continuous, and the likely nature of such trading.
(2) 	The Commissioner shall notify the relevant licensee in writing of the assessment of a quarterly franchise fee under subsection (1).
(3) 	A quarterly franchise fee assessed under subsection (1) is due and payable within 14 days of the date of the notice under subsection (2).
(4) 	For the purposes of this Act and the Administration Act, an amount paid to the Territory under subsection 14 (3) is to be taken to be a payment on account of the franchise fee assessed under subsection (1).
Division 2—Initial fees
11. 	Liability
(1) 	An initial fee in relation to an application for a licence shall be such an amount as is assessed by the Commissioner as being fair and reasonable in the circumstances.
(2) 	The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) include the following:
	(a)	the wholesale value of the total stock of liquor—
	(i)	held by the applicant for the purpose of trading on the date of the application; and
	(ii)	estimated as likely to be acquired by the applicant in the quarter in which the licence is to be issued and the following quarter for the purpose of trading;
	(b)	the estimated value of that portion of the stock referred to in subparagraphs (a) (i) and (ii) in relation to which a quarterly franchise fee would become payable if the licence were to remain in force in the second and third quarter after the quarter in which it is to be issued;
	(c)	the gross income from liquor trading estimated as likely to be received by the applicant in the quarter in which the licence is to be issued and the following quarter;
	(d)	initial fees assessed in relation to other applications. 
(3) 	The Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing of the assessment of an initial fee.
Division 3—Refund of fees on surrender
12. 	Amounts refunded on surrender
(1) 	Subject to subsection (2), where, during a quarter, a licence is cancelled under section 42C of the Liquor Act following an application by the person holding the licence for its surrender or conditional surrender, the Territory shall pay to that person an amount calculated according to the formula—
QFF X 
where—
	QFF	is the quarterly franchise fee paid in respect of the licence (whether by that person or a previous licensee) for the quarter;
	DRQ	is the number of days remaining in the quarter on and after the day on which the cancellation takes effect; and
	DQ	is the total number of days in the quarter.
(2) 	Where, during the quarter in which a licence is issued or the following quarter, a licence is cancelled under section 42C of the Liquor Act following an application by the person holding the licence for its surrender or conditional surrender, the Territory shall pay to that person an amount calculated according to the formula—
IF X 
where—
	IF	is the initial fee paid in respect of the licence (whether by that person or a previous licensee) for the initial fee period;
	DRIFP	is the number of days remaining in the initial fee period on and after the day on which the cancellation takes effect; and
	DIFP	is the total number of days in the initial fee period.
(3) 	In subsection (2)—
“initial fee period” means the period commencing on the day of issue of the licence and terminating at the expiration of the last day of the quarter following the quarter in which the licence was issued.
Division 4—Unlicensed liquor traders
13. 	Liability for fees
(1) 	A person who purchases liquor for the purpose of sale (or exposure for sale) without an appropriate licence, and without an appropriate permit, is liable to pay the Territory an amount equal to the sum of the initial fee and the quarterly franchise fees which would have been payable under this Act if an appropriate licence had—
	(a)	been issued to the person immediately before the date of the first such purchase;
	(b)	been in force at the time of any such purchase; and
	(c)	expired immediately after the last such purchase.
(2) 	Subsection (1) applies whether or not the person purchasing liquor is convicted of any offence against the Liquor Act.
(3) 	The Administration Act applies in relation to this section as if a licence had been issued, remained in force and expired in the manner referred to in paragraphs (1) (a), (b) and (c).
PART III—returns and payments
14. 	Time for lodgment of returns and payment
(1) 	A licensee shall, on or before the due date in respect of a quarter for which a quarterly franchise fee is payable (whether by the licensee or a person to whom the licence is to be transferred) lodge a return with the Commissioner in the approved form—
	(a)	 specifying—
	(i)	the amount (including duties) paid or payable for wholesale liquor purchases of each determined type of liquor in the base quarter in the course of trading under the licence; and
	(ii)	the amount (including duties) paid or payable for exempt sales of each determined type of liquor in the base quarter in the course of trading under the licence; and
	(b)	accompanied by the quarterly franchise fee or, where subsection (3) applies, the estimated amount of that fee.
(2) 	In paragraph (1) (a), a reference to wholesale liquor purchases or exempt sales in the course of trading under the licence is to be read as including a reference to all such purchases and sales irrespective of whether the person lodging the return was the licensee at the time of such trading.
(3) 	The return to be lodged on or before the due date in respect of the second quarter following the issue of a licence shall be accompanied by an amount equal, in the estimation of the licensee lodging the return, to the quarterly franchise fee likely to be assessed under subsection 10 (1).
(4) 	Where a licence is transferred with effect from the first day of a quarter for which a quarterly franchise fee is payable, the amount accompanying the return lodged by the transferor under subsection (1) on the due date in respect of the quarter is, on and after the date of the transfer, to be taken to have been paid on behalf of the transferee.
15. 	Suspension and cancellation—failure to pay fees and penalties
(1) 	Where a licensee fails to pay—
	(a)	an amount payable under this Act; or
	(b)	an amount of penalty tax;
on or before the date for payment, the licence is, by force of this subsection, suspended.
(2) 	Where a licensee fails to pay an amount referred to in paragraph (1) (a) or (b) within 30 days after the date for payment, the licence is, by force of this subsection, cancelled.
(3) 	In this section—
“date for payment” means—
	(a)	in relation to an amount referred to in paragraph (1) (a)—
	(i)	the day by which the amount is required to be paid in accordance with this Act; or 
	(ii)	where the Commissioner allows further time for payment—the last day so allowed; or
	(b)	in relation to an amount referred to in paragraph (1) (b)—the day by which the amount is payable in accordance with the Administration Act.
Part iv—fees payable by universities and the canberra theatre trust
16. 	Application
	This Part applies to—
	(a)	a University; and
	(b)	the Canberra Theatre Trust.
17. 	Payments
(1) 	A body to which this Part applies shall, on or before the due date in respect of a quarter—
	(a)	lodge a return in the approved form specifying the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable for wholesale liquor purchases of each determined type of liquor in the base quarter; and
	(b)	pay the aggregate of amounts in relation to each determined type of liquor calculated in accordance with the formula—
WLP x DR
		where—
	WLP	is the aggregate referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to the determined type of liquor; and
	DR	is the determined rate for the determined type of liquor;
or the determined amount, whichever is greater.
(2) 	In subsection (1)—
“base quarter”, in relation to a due date, means the quarter that commenced 6 months before the quarter in which the due date falls.
Part v—records and certificates of liquor transactions
Division 1—Records
18. 	Records of liquor transactions
(1) 	For the purposes of this Act, a licensee shall keep a record of each purchase of liquor for sale or exposure for sale to which the licence relates, specifying—
	(a)	the date of the purchase;
	(b)	the name and address of the person from whom the liquor was purchased;
	(c)	the determined type to which the liquor belonged;
	(d)	the quantity of liquor purchased; and
	(e)	the amount (including duties) paid for the liquor.
(2) 	The holder of an Off Licence shall keep a record of each exempt wholesale liquor sale specifying—
	(a)	the date of the sale;
	(b)	the name, address and licence number (if any) of the person to whom the liquor was sold;
	(c)	the determined type to which the liquor belonged;
	(d)	the quantity of liquor sold;
	(e)	the amount (including duties) paid by the holder of that Off Licence for the liquor; and
	(f)	the amount (including duties) paid to the holder of that Off Licence for the liquor.
(3) 	The holder of an Off Licence who sells liquor by wholesale shall keep a record of each retail sale of liquor to which the licence relates, showing—
	(a)	the date of the sale;
	(b)	the name, address and licence number (if any) of the person to whom the liquor was sold;
	(c)	the determined type to which the liquor belonged;
	(d)	the quantity of liquor sold;
	(e)	the amount (including duties) paid to the holder of that Off Licence for the liquor; and
	(f)	the sales docket number.
(4) 	A licensee shall keep any other records required by the Commissioner.
(5) 	A licensee shall keep a record made pursuant to this section for a period of not less than 6 years after the date of the relevant transaction.
(6) 	A licensee shall not, without reasonable excuse, contravene subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5).
Penalty:
	(a)	if the offender is a natural person—20 penalty units;
	(b)	if the offender is a body corporate—100 penalty units.
Division 2—Certificates
19. 	Annual lodgment
	On or before 1 August in each year, a licensee shall lodge with the Commissioner a certificate in the approved form specifying—
	(a)	the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable by the licensee for wholesale liquor purchases in the previous financial year to which the licence relates; and
	(b)	the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable by the licensee for exempt sales in the previous financial year to which the licence relates.
Penalty:
	(a)	if the offender is a natural person—20 penalty units;
	(b)	if the offender is a body corporate—100 penalty units.
20. 	 Lodgment on transfer or termination of licences
(1) 	Within 14 days after a licence—
	(a)	is transferred; or
	(b)	ceases to be in force (except by virtue of its suspension);
the transferor or former licensee (as the case requires) shall lodge with the Commissioner a certificate in the approved form specifying—
	(c)	the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable by the transferor or former licensee for wholesale liquor purchases in the final period to which the licence relates; and
	(d)	the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable by the transferor or former licensee for exempt sales in the final period to which the licence relates.
Penalty:
	(a)	if the offender is a natural person—20 penalty units;
	(b)	if the offender is a body corporate—100 penalty units.
(2) 	In subsection (1)—
“final period”, in relation to a licence, means—
	(a)	where the licence is transferred or terminated in the month of July or on 1 August—the period beginning on 1 July in the preceding calendar year and ending on the transfer date or termination date; or
	(b)	in any other case—the period beginning on 1 July in the financial year in which the transfer date or termination date falls and ending on the transfer date or termination date.
21. 	Universities and the Canberra Theatre Trust
(1) 	This section applies to—
	(a)	a University; and
	(b)	the Canberra Theatre Trust.
(2) 	On or before 1 August in each year, a body to which this section applies shall lodge a certificate in the approved form specifying the aggregate of amounts (including duties) paid or payable for wholesale liquor purchases in the previous financial year.
Penalty for contravention of subsection (2):  100 penalty units.
part vI—role of executive
22. 	Exempt wholesale licences
	The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare an Off Licence held by a person to be an exempt wholesale licence.
23. 	Determination of types of liquor
(1) 	The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, determine different types of liquor for the purposes of this Act.
(2) 	A determination under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 10 of the Subordinate Laws Act 1989.
24. 	Regulations
	The Executive may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters—
	(a)	required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
	(b)	necessary or convenient to be prescribed;
for giving effect to this Act.
part VII—repeal, transitional, saving
25. 	Repeal
	The Liquor Tax Act 1991 is repealed.
26. 	Transitional
(1) 	In this section—
“June quarter” means the quarter ending on 30 June 1993;
“repealed Act” means the Liquor Tax Act 1991.      
(2) 	The liability of a licensee to pay an amount under paragraph 10 (1) (b) or 15 (1) (b) (as the case may be) of the repealed Act on or before 17 March 1993 is extinguished.
(3) 	Any amount paid by a licensee under paragraph 10 (1) (b) or 15 (1) (b) of the repealed Act before 17 March 1993 in satisfaction of the licensee’s liability under the repealed Act to pay that amount on or before that date is to be taken to have been paid on account of the licensee’s liability under section 14 of this Act to pay the quarterly franchise fee, or an estimate of the quarterly franchise fee, as the case may be, on 17 March 1993 for the June quarter.
(4) 	The liability of a licensee to pay an amount under paragraph 11 (1) (b) of the repealed Act on or before 17 March 1993 in relation to a licence transferred between 1 January 1993 and 16 March 1993 (inclusive) is extinguished.
(5) 	Any amount paid by a licensee under paragraph 11 (1) (b)  of the repealed Act before 17 March in relation to a licence transferred between 1 January 1993 and 16 March 1993 (inclusive) is to be taken to have been paid on account of the licensee’s liability under section 14 of this Act to pay the quarterly franchise fee, or an estimate of the quarterly franchise fee, as the case may be, on 17 March 1993 for the June quarter.  
27. 	Saving—continuing licences
(1) 	Notwithstanding the repeal of the Liquor Tax Act 1991, where a continuing licence ceases to be in force between 17 March 1993 and 1 July 1993 (inclusive), section 16 of that Act continues to apply to the former licensee.
(2) 	Notwithstanding the repeal of the Liquor Tax Act 1991, where a continuing licence is transferred between 17 March 1993 and 1 July 1993 (inclusive), section 17 of that Act continues to apply to the transferee.
(3) 	In this section—
“continuing licence” means a licence—
	(a)	in force immediately before 1 January 1992; and
	(b)	in relation to which no election has taken effect under section 26 of the Liquor Tax Act 1991.

NOTES
1.	The Business Franchise (Liquor) Act 1993 as shown in this reprint comprises Act No. 17, 1993 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Table of Acts
Act	Number  
and year	Date of 
notification 
in Gazette	Date of 
commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions	

Business Franchise (Liquor) Act 1993	17, 1993	9 Mar 1993	17 Mar 1993		
Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1998	54, 1998	27 Nov 1998	Ss. 1 and 2:  27 Nov 1998
Remainder:  9 Dec 1998 (see Gazette 1998, No. 49, p. 1078)	—	
Taxation Administration (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1999
	5, 1999	1 Mar 1999	1 Mar 1999	—	
Table of Amendments
ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended     rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision	How affected

S. 3	am. No. 5, 1999
S. 5	rs. No. 5, 1999
Ss. 18-21	am. No. 54, 1998

©  Australian Capital Territory 2008