Changes to Liquor Licensing Policy endorsed

Changes to the Liquor Licensing General Policy aim to strengthen Council’s consideration of requests for feedback into liquor and gaming licences applications to the State’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) across the Cairns region.

Council’s revised policy aims to provide clearer and more consistent guidance when Council responds to liquor licence and gaming machine applications referred by the OLGR.

While final licensing decisions rest with the State Government, Council has been advocating for greater consideration to be given to its feedback on local amenity, planning compliance and community impacts.

The review follows a rise in alcohol-related antisocial incidents recorded through Council’s City Safe program since 2023, particularly within the CBD, North Cairns and inner suburbs.

Proposed amendments include a formal position opposing any additional detached bottle shops in high-risk inner-city areas, as well as opposition to detached bottle shop and gaming machine trading before 10am and after midnight.

The changes are designed to better reflect current community expectations, improve consistency in Council’s assessments and support safer, more liveable neighbourhoods across the Cairns region.