Local council liquor licence objection kit

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Local councils play a vital role in the liquor licensing process in Victoria, through planning approvals for venues that wish to trade in their municipalities, and through their ability to object to a new licence or variation.

To support its decision making, and in accordance with requirements under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (the Act), the VGCCC notifies the relevant local council and Victoria Police when it receives a new liquor licence application or variation to an existing licence (excluding applications for limited licences, and prescribed variations to licences).

Local councils have up to 30 days to lodge a written objection with the VGCCC.

The VGCCC has developed a Local council liquor licence objection kit (PDF, 365.53 KB) to provide clearer guidelines on the process for making an objection to a liquor licence application.

Please note this kit is an additional resource for local councils. While objections must be in writing, you are not required to use the objection form in this kit.

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Local council concerns about existing licensed premises

Local council may request the VGCCC to conduct an inquiry into:

the amenity or disuse (where the licence has not been used for 12 months or more) of a liquor licence in their local council area
whether there are grounds to take disciplinary action against a licensee within their local council area.

The grounds for consideration by the VGCCC when it decides to conduct an inquiry into amenity or disuse are:

whether continuation of the licence would detract from or be detrimental to the amenity of the area
whether the licence has not be used for a period of 12 months or more.

If, after conducting the inquiry, the VGCCC decides to take action against the licensee, it can choose to:

cancel the licence or permit
suspend the licence or permit
vary the licence or permit
make any other direction that the VGCCC thinks fit.

Additional resources for local council

Unlocking liquor licensing - Resource 2: Liquor licensing laws - Published by VicHealth, this resource aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of Victoria's liquor licensing system and help councils to address alcohol-related harm in their communities.

Liquor licences and applications online - Search for liquor licence applications received by the VGCCC.

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Local council liquor licence objection kit

Download the Local council objection kit