The Victorian Liquor Commission

The Victorian Liquor Commission

The Victorian Liquor Commission delivers licensing, investigative, disciplinary and other regulatory functions under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (the Act) and regulations relating to the supply and consumption of liquor in Victoria.

From 1 July 2022, the Victorian Liquor Commission is responsible for the regulation of liquor. The Commission is supported in its functions by staff from the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

The Commission:

• undertakes licensing, approval, authorisation and registration activities
• performs regulatory, investigative and disciplinary functions
• promotes and monitors compliance
• detects and responds to contraventions
• provides advice to the Minister on the operation of the Act and regulations, and the Commission’s functions under the Act and regulations
• implements Government policy in relation to the supply and consumption of liquor, and
• informs and educates the public about the Commission’s regulatory practices and requirements.

The Commission also has a broader policy role to consider emerging issues that impact on the delivery of regulatory functions and the operation of the Act and regulations.

The Commission observes the following guidelines to disclose any relevant interests.

For more information on each Commissioner, please visit Our Commissioners.

Liquor Control Victoria

The Victoria Liquor Commission is supported in delivering these functions by staff from a business unit of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). The Commission, together with staff from DJCS are called Liquor Control Victoria (LCV).

The establishment of a dedicated liquor regulator in Victoria was a key response to the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence (Finkelstein Royal Commission).

DJCS supports the Victorian Liquor Commission by providing operational and administrative support and by performing various regulatory functions for Victoria’s liquor industry under delegation. As a matter of practice, certain licensing, compliance and enforcement powers of the Commission are delegated to officers within DJCS, including:

• the delivery of licensing, approval, authorisation and registration activities
• delivering activities to support industry to comply with all laws and regulations, and to detect and respond to contraventions of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998.

LCV has a Chief Operating Officer who is responsible for the general conduct and the effective and efficient management of our functions and activities. Divisions of LCV cover licensing, compliance and enforcement, and legal, policy and harm minimisation.

Many of the delegates decisions as well as single Commissioner decisions can be appealed through an internal review process. For more information on the process, or to appeal, please use the following form.

LCV organisation chart

Chief Operating Officer: Chris Carter

• Director, Compliance: Lisa Faldon
• Director, Legal Policy and Harm Minimisation: Cameron Warfe
• Director, Licensing and Transformation: Erin Williams

Corporate documents

Liquor Control Victoria Strategic Plan 2023 - 2026

Commission hearings

When considering an internal review matter or conducting an inquiry, the Commission appoints a suitably qualified lawyer to be Counsel Assisting the Commission. Liquor Control Victoria may provide a lawyer to fulfil this function.

The role of the appointed lawyer (Counsel Assisting) is to help the Commission conduct the matter including, including questioning of witnesses at a hearing and eliciting information necessary for the Commission to consider the matter. They can also provide the Commission with legal advice concerning its powers, duties, functions and obligations and facilitate the efficient and effective conduct of the matter.

Role of Counsel Assisting

The role of Counsel Assisting is to facilitate the proper conduct of the matter with a view to ensuring that the Commission has before it all relevant and appropriate evidence, presented in a fair and reasonable manner, to inform the Commission’s decision making;

For this purpose, Counsel Assisting may do one or more of the following (as appropriate for the particular inquiry):

• provide advice to the Commission about how the matter (including preliminary hearings and conferences) should be conducted;
• correspond with the parties regarding pre-hearing procedural steps;
• identify and/or collate documents that may be relevant;
• provide advice about, and assistance with, the use of the Commission's investigative powers (where relevant);
• tender documents or lead evidence;
• ask questions of parties and witnesses;
• make submissions on relevant matters; and
• assist in the preparation of draft reasons for decision of the Commission.

Counsel Assisting is expected to:

• act impartially and transparently in their dealings with parties and witnesses
• act in accordance with the lawful directions given by the Commissioners.

Counsel Assisting cannot provide legal advice to parties, but can provide guidance to parties concerning the Commission’s usual practices and procedures.