The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty in Parliament this week condemned the Brumby Government for imposing inequitable and unjust increases in liquor license fees.
“The liquor license fees imposed on community and sporting groups across Victoria are causing great financial hardship to these groups as they struggle to sustain their viability,” Mr Delahunty said.
“Sporting groups such as the Rainbow, Casterton, Lake Bolac and Goroke golf clubs and the Jeparit and Dartmoor bowling clubs are struggling to meet these new fees. The unfairness of these new liquor licence fees is also affecting football, netball and cricket clubs across the Lowan electorate.”
Mr Delahunty said that these clubs were now forced to pay fees which had increased by 400 per cent.
“The impost of the increased liquor licence fees on sporting and community clubs further illustrates how far out of touch the Brumby Government is with country communities.”
Mr Delahunty said that the increased fees on these country sporting and community organisations would add further stress to the small membership numbers and further add to the financial burden of payment of public liability insurance, power bills and council rates.
“I have called on the Brumby government to rethink these unfair and inequitable liquor licence fees which are impacting on the ability of sporting and community clubs to provide facilities for participation in sport and recreation in their communities,” Mr Delahunty said.
Media contact: Hugh Delahunty (03) 5382 0097
