Liquor Accords are working together to ensure troublemakers barred in one town can no longer travel down the road to another.
Licensed venues across the Mid North Coast Police District have joined forces to bar troublesome patrons from every venue across the region under an expanded multi-venue barring policy.
The unified initiative sees the Hastings, Macleay and Nambucca Liquor Accords working in direct partnership to ensure troublemakers barred in one town can no longer simply travel down the road to another venue.
Hastings Liquor Accord Chair Alistair Flower said licensees across the three accord areas are united in safeguarding both community members and hospitality staff.
“While the vast majority of patrons do the right thing, there is unfortunately a minority who engage in unacceptable, anti-social behaviour,” Mr Flower said.
“By linking our three accords across the entire Mid North Coast Police District, we are closing the gaps. If you get barred in Port Macquarie, Kempsey or Nambucca, you are barred across the entire district.
“Our venues are committed to providing safe, welcoming environments for families, locals and visitors. The message is clear — behave or be barred. You don’t want to be the one sitting at home while all your friends are out enjoying our local venues.”
Mid North Coast Police District Commander, Superintendent Shane Cribb, welcomed the expanded network and reinforced police support for venue safety.
“NSW Police has zero tolerance for violent, disorderly or intimidating behaviour in our community,” Superintendent Cribb said.
“Our priority is keeping licensed premises and the surrounding precincts safe for patrons, staff and the wider public. This district-wide accord partnership gives licensees real teeth to hold offenders accountable, and we will actively enforce it.”
With 25 years of experience as a licensee, Port Macquarie MP Rob Dwyer praised the proactive cross-regional collaboration under the Liquor & Gaming NSW framework.
“It is fantastic to see our local Liquor Accords taking the initiative to collaborate across borders and strengthen local safety,” Mr Dwyer said.
“The NSW Liquor Accord program, created and supported by Liquor & Gaming NSW, is designed to empower local operators to solve local problems. Seeing Hastings, Macleay and Nambucca unite as a single district network shows genuine leadership in keeping our community vibrant and safe.”
Oxley MP Michael Kemp, whose electorate takes in Wauchope and the Macleay and Nambucca valleys, strongly endorsed the united front across regional communities.
“Our local pubs and clubs are the heart of regional towns like Wauchope, Kempsey and Macksville, and everyone deserves to feel safe when they walk through the doors,” Mr Kemp said.
“Closing the loophole so troublemakers can’t simply skip between towns is common sense. It protects our hard-working hospitality staff, backs our local venues, and sends a crystal-clear message across the entire Mid North Coast that violent and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated anywhere in our region.”
Under the expanded policy, individuals can be barred from all participating venues across the Mid North Coast Police District for a minimum of three months, extending up to 10 years in severe cases.
In addition, minors caught attempting to enter venues with false IDs, purchasing alcohol or stealing from retail bottle shops face barring for 12 months starting from their 18th birthday.
A person can be refused entry or ejected across all district venues for:
- Violent, threatening or aggressive behaviour
- Anti-social or disorderly conduct
- Malicious damage, vandalism or ongoing disturbances
- Repeated intoxication across multiple licensed premises
- Refusal to leave a venue when directed by staff or security
- Drug use, possession or supply
- Fake identification offences.
Anyone who enters or attempts to enter a licensed venue while subject to a barring order commits an offence under the Liquor Act 2007 and may receive an on-the-spot fine of $550 or face court-imposed penalties of up to $5500.
