The Victorian regulator has advised licensed venues in Victoria should be receiving licence renewal notices, which must be paid by the end of this year – regardless of when issued.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) says licensees can expect to receive their annual renewal notice from late November.
Liquor licence renewal fees are to be paid in full to the State Revenue Office by 31 December 2019, independent of when the licence or permit was first issued.
Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998, it is an offence for licensees to not pay their renewal fees by the due date, and from 1 January VCGLR inspectors may be visiting licensed premises who have not paid their fee.
The VCGLR offers the Liquor Portal and eLicence service. Those registered will receive their renewal notice via email. No hard copy will be sent.
Once payment is made, the 2020 licence will be emailed within five working days, for licensees to print and display at the venue.
In select circumstances licensees can apply to reduce or waive their annual renewal fee. An application must be made before 31 December 2019. More information can be found on the VCGLR’s Reduce or waive a renewal fee page.
Victorian operators still can register to the Liquor Portal HERE.
For further information about licensee obligations see the VCGLR website.