Legal Project Management Plan & Checklist
Use this fork when the local Police Area Command (PAC) or Local Health District (LHD) lodges a formal written objection to the liquor licence application during either the pre-lodgement consultation period or the post-lodgement noticeboard period. A formal police or LHD objection immediately triggers two consequences: the application cannot be determined by an LGNSW delegate and must be escalated to the full ILGA Board for determination; and the post-lodgement noticeboard advertising period is extended to a minimum of 30 days (if it was not already 30 days). Verify current guidelines on the official NSW Legislation. Access services via the NSW Courts.
This fork operates before the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) full Board, which must determine all applications where police or a local health district has formally objected. No delegate determination is available. Review of the Board's determination lies with NCAT's Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division under s 36C of the Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 (NSW) within 28 days of the Board's written decision. Verify current guidelines on the official NSW Legislation.
The formal police or LHD objection is received and analysed. The client is advised that escalation to the ILGA Board is automatic and mandatory. A comprehensive written response to the objection is drafted. A negotiation meeting with the objecting agency is scheduled to understand the specific concerns and explore whether conditions can be negotiated that would satisfy the objection. The matter escalates to the ILGA Board. Submissions are prepared incorporating the 1 July 2025 Ministerial Directions, which require the Board to give equal weight to all statutory objectives and to justify any restrictive conditions on the specific circumstances of the venue rather than applying blanket precautionary conditions. A Statement of Reasons is requested from the Board after determination. If the determination is adverse, a 28-day window opens for NCAT merits review under s 36C. Verify current guidelines on the official NSW Legislation.
Key legislation: Liquor Act 2007 (NSW) s 48(5) (ILGA must consider: likely harm to the community, impact on the amenity of the locality, community demand for the service, and business viability); Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 (NSW) s 36A (ILGA Board internal review, 28 days), s 36C (NCAT merits review, 28 days from Board's written determination); Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW); 1 July 2025 Ministerial Directions issued by the Hon. David Harris MP (require ILGA to give equal weight to all statutory objectives and require venue-specific justification for any restrictive conditions - cannot apply blanket precautionary restrictions). Mandatory Board determination: once police or LHD formally objects, the delegate loses power to determine - escalation to the Board is automatic and cannot be waived.
* Disclaimer: We're nobody's lawyer, because we aren't lawyers. You are, so you know better than to take legal advice from an app. We also aren't accountants or dog trainers - just digital spirit guides taking zero liability for any of this. This site exists to gather the collective knowledge of practitioners like you. Verify everything and submit your feedback on the Liquor: Licence Application and Community Impact Statement (Applicant) - Contested Application - Police or Local Health District Formal Objection matter plan to improve the playbook. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, it's a request for input.
This legal matter plan provides a structured workflow for LICENSING cases, outlining the standard ADMINISTRATIVE process. Utilize these tracking templates to manage your legal cases efficiently.
The client understands the escalation to the ILGA Board and has approved the strategy for responding to the objection.
Verify all prerequisite documentation has been obtained, cross-reference against the statutory requirements for this matter type, and confirm compliance with practice direction protocols.
The applicant's response to the objection is on the record and every available opportunity to resolve the objection through voluntary conditions has been explored.
Prepare the relevant forms and supporting materials required under the applicable legislation, ensuring all mandatory fields are completed and all attachments are properly certified.
The application has been determined by the ILGA Board. Statement of Reasons obtained for assessment of review or appeal prospects.
Coordinate the collection and review of all financial documentation required for disclosure, including statements, valuations, and supporting schedules as mandated by the rules.
The 1 July 2025 Ministerial Directions issued by the Hon. David Harris MP are a significant development in NSW liquor licensing practice. The Directions mandate that ILGA must give equal weight to all statutory objectives under s 3 of the Liquor Act 2007 (NSW) - harm minimisation, industry development, and community interest. This directly limits ILGA's prior practice of treating harm minimisation as the dominant or overriding objective. The Directions also prohibit ILGA from imposing generic restrictive conditions that are not justified by the specific circumstances of the venue and the specific grounds raised in the objection. Practitioners should use the Ministerial Directions prominently in submissions to challenge blanket restrictive conditions that are not tied to specific evidence about the proposed venue.
Draft and dispatch formal correspondence addressing the procedural requirements at this stage, including any required notices, requests for information, or proposals for resolution.