Australians across the country will gain unprecedented access to watch the Socceroos in their early morning clash against Egypt, with Queenslanders securing a last-minute surprise announcement from the state government. A new licensed venue trial in Queensland to extend trading hours was confirmed on Tuesday, with the state government backing pubs and clubs across the state and allowing them to trade between 3am and 7am on game day.
Socceroos Advance to Knockout Stage
The Socceroos have made it through the group stages in the FIFA World Cup and have now advanced to the knockout stage — only the third time the team has managed the feat. Saturday’s match against Egypt will kick off at 4am AEST, with fans expected to flock to pubs for the historic game.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government was “proud to be supporting Queenslanders” to turn the match into a shared celebration. “There’s nothing like coming together with a crowd to cheer on the Socceroos, and we want Queenslanders to be part of that atmosphere,” she said. “We’ve found a way through and taken a practical approach so our pubs and community clubs can open and create a great game-day experience for fans right across the state. This is about making it easier for people to get together, support our national team and enjoy the excitement, while still ensuring the safety for Queenslanders and the responsible service of alcohol.”
Trial Conditions and Application Process
The new trial comes with a catch, however: licensed venues trading during the Socceroos clash are only allowed to be open for the primary purpose of broadcasting the game. It must also be approved in advance by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). Venues that want to apply for the license extension must submit an application to the OLGR for approval by 2pm on Thursday, 2 July. All other licensing laws and requirements continue to apply, including compliance with the responsible service of alcohol.
The state government also announced this week it had acquired two “blockbuster” games for the Socceroos’ World Cup homecoming series, securing two friendly exhibition matches against Brazil in Brisbane and Townsville in September.
Other States' Arrangements
In New South Wales, the state government has a list of special event extended trading, which gives longer liquor trading hours for events of regional, state, or national significance across NSW. Unlike Queensland, the extended trading hours apply to venues automatically, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the event. Eligible venues do not need to apply or register to access the extended trading, including hotels, clubs, general bars, small bars, and casinos. However, all venues must provide a live broadcast of the match during the extended trading period to remain eligible.
In Victoria, venues can apply for licenses for special events which allows extended trading hours. Some venues may already hold a late night licence in Victoria which allows them to operate late into the evening.
Both Western Australian and South Australian venues can also apply for extensions to liquor licences for special events. Each state has its own rules with regards to applications and eligibility and need to be applied for through the appropriate government channels.
Venues in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory can also apply for an out-of-hours permit if they trade after midnight. Conditions may restrict consumption of alcohol to inside the premises, with venues serving after 2am facing other conditions, such as operating CCTV at the premises to comply with surveillance standards in Tasmania. Permits will also allow venues in the ACT to operate until 5am.
