AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LIQUOR ORDINANCE 1966.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 8 of 1966

	The Liquor Ordinance at present does not provide for a form of liquor licence which meets satisfactorily the supply of liquor at motels, carotels, caraparks and similar establishments in the Australian Capital Territory.  Provision for such a licence has now been made in the Ordinance.

	It is intended that this new licence would only be available on application from an establishment which would have accommodation making provision for at least twenty-five bedrooms, each complete with toilet and ablution facilities, and for a common dining-room or restaurant which might be open to the public.  Liquor would be made available to lodgers, their guests and the general public with meals at hotel hours, as now provided in the Liquor Ordinance for hotels, and to lodgers (and their guests) in their suites at any hour.  Bar drinking and bulk liquor retailing to the general public would not be permitted.

	Hitherto motels and like establishments in the Australian Capital Territory have been licensed to serve liquor under varying conditions.  Some have operated under Restaurant Licences while others hold Residential Hotel licences with or without a bar.

	It is further intended that the Ordinance should provide for the Licensing Magistrate to approve a liquor licence for wet canteen facilities at construction sites in remote localities of the Australian Capital Territory.  In the case of this amendment it is the intention that such construction camps would be outside a ten mile perimeter around the City Area as defined in the City Area Leases Ordinance and that a substantial work force not residing on the site following completion of the project would be engaged.  Canteen facilities of a standard which would meet the requirements of the Licensing Magistrate would have to be provided.  Liquor would have to be consumed on the licensed premises.

	Sales of liquor at such canteens would only be permitted to bona fide personnel of the contractor and to persons directly associated with the project and their guests.  The Special (Construction Camps) Licence would be withdrawn on completion of the particular project concerned.

	This amendment would have immediate application in the licensing of canteen facilities at the Corin Dam and would also allow for the licensing of such canteens at future remote construction sites in the Territory.

___J.D. ANTHONY__
    Minister’s Initials.