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Executive summary

It is with pleasure that I present the Liquor Commission (the Commission) Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024.

The Commission has experienced significant changes to its membership during the reporting period. Dr Kim Hames and Professor Colleen Hayward resigned in August 2023 and January 2024 respectively. I thank them both for their commitment and their contribution to the operations of the Commission, which was invaluable in the shaping and administration of the liquor licensing regulatory scheme in Western Australia. 

It is the experience of the Commission in recent years that barring notices issued by the Commissioner of Police have been appealed more often on the basis of the scope of the barring order and, in particular, the wide range of premises that a respondent may be barred from attending. As barring orders are not intended to have a punitive effect, but a protective one, this has required careful consideration of the facts of each incident, as well as the particular personal circumstances of the respondent being barred, to ensure that the scope and length of barring orders align with objects of the Act. 

The volume of material before the Commission and time required to draft judgments continues to increase. This places significant demands on the time of commissioners, many of whom are already employed full-time in other positions and causes delays in the publication of decisions.

I take this opportunity to thank the State Administrative Tribunal for the continued use of their facilities to conduct hearings. Their ability, flexibility, and willingness to cater to our needs is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I wish to thank the staff of the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries for the provision of executive services. Their dedication, professionalism and commitment are vital to the ongoing effective operations of the Commission.

Ms Emma Power
Chairperson