Support for liquor accords
The 2003 Summit on Alcohol Abuse acknowledged the positive role of liquor accords in many local communities in New South Wales. As part of the Government's response to the Summit, the NSW Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing established a Liquor Accord Delivery Unit to assist accords and expand accords throughout the state.
The Liquor Accord Delivery Unit consists of staff based in the Sydney who act as liaison officers to existing accords and accords under development. Their role is to assist in the development and management of liquor accords in the following ways:
Facilitating role
- Identify, coordinate and assist accords to engage key stakeholders such as police, local councils, area health services, Aboriginal community and industry associations
- provide technical advice on liquor licensing laws
- conduct formal presentations and provide resource materials concerning liquor accords
- participate in steering committees and ensure that the strategies developed meet legislative requirements and industry guidelines
- assist accords to develop their community action plans
- assist accords to monitor and review their strategies
- help accords to engage the media effectively
- provide accords with ideas and examples of other accord's initiatives and strategies
- conduct annual regional conferences for accords.
Monitoring role
- Conduct harm minimisation audits in the accord area to ensure compliance with liquor laws
- collect, collate and evaluate statistics pertaining to liquor accords to determine the success or otherwise of accord strategies
- analyse the effectiveness of legislation in supporting accords at a local and state-wide level and assist in proposing legislative change, where appropriate
- liaise and provide feedback to community groups and stakeholders about the accord's strategies and outcomes
- conduct reviews of accords at timely intervals.
Liquor Accord Delivery Unit resources
The Liquor Accord Delivery Unit has a range of databases containing information that will assist liquor accords to develop strategies, engage stakeholders and monitor accord effectiveness. These include:
- A complaint tracking database that records all complaints concerning licensed premises
- a state audit and education database that records compliance levels by local government area
- licensing records of the Licensing Court of NSW and the Liquor Administration Board.
- lists of licensed premises by local government area which may be used to conduct mail outs.
While individual records may not be able to be released because of privacy legislation and secrecy provisions, liaison officers may be able to compile information to give an overview of relevant issues for your area.
For further information
Please contact the Liquor Accord Delivery Unit on (02) 9995 0312, or email accords@olgr.nsw.gov.au.
