August 14th, 2024Dan Murphy’s Daylesford licence refused in ‘landmark’ decision

The Hepburn Shire Council has today welcomed a Victorian Liquor Commission decision to refuse Dan Murphy’s a licence to operate in Daylesford.

The council had strongly advocated for the refusal during the submission process and at hearings, along with a number of committed community members.

Announced this morning, the Victorian Liquor Commission decision represents the first time the new definition of “harm” under the Liquor Control Reform Act has been used to refuse a licence, making it a landmark decision.

“The decision, which was announced this morning, was made namely on the basis that granting the licence could pose a public risk, encourage harm (particularly minors) and have adverse social impacts,” Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said in a statement issued this afternoon.

In announcing its decision The Commission: “concludes that granting the Licence would be conducive to or encourage harm, specifically to minors.

“In particular, the Commission concludes that there is an appreciable risk that granting the Licence would result in an increase of secondary supply of alcohol to minors in Daylesford and (therefore) an increase in alcohol consumption by minors and (therefore) increased harm from the misuse and abuse of alcohol by minors.

“This conclusion is driven by the accumulation of a number of factors … deriving from the “particular local, social, demographic and geographic circumstances” of Daylesford.”

The full decision can be found at https://www.vic.gov.au/liquor-decisions-and-hearings