24Consideration of application for liquor licence

24 Consideration of application for liquor licence

(1)  After receiving an application for a liquor licence the Commissioner shall satisfy himself or herself that the applicant is qualified to hold the licence applied for.

(1A)  [Section 24 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 7 of 2008, s. 8, Applied:02 May 2008] The Commissioner may make such inquiries regarding an application for a liquor licence as the Commissioner considers necessary or expedient for a proper consideration of the application.

(1B)  [Section 24 Subsection (1B) inserted by No. 7 of 2008, s. 8, Applied:02 May 2008] Without limiting the generality of subsections (1) and (1A) , the Commissioner may  –

(a) forward a copy of an application for a liquor licence to the Commissioner of Police; and

(b) request the Commissioner of Police to provide a report as to whether, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police –

(i) the applicant is a fit and proper person to be a licensee; and

(ii) any associate of the applicant who is a natural person and likely to have any influence over the management of the business to be carried on under the licence is a fit and proper person to be an associate of a licensee.

(2)  [Section 24 Subsection (2) amended by No. 9 of 2002, s. 12, Applied:15 Sep 2003] [Section 24 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 9 of 2015, s. 7, Applied:12 Aug 2015] If the Commissioner is satisfied that an applicant for a liquor licence is qualified under section 22 to hold the licence, the Commissioner –

(a) is to consider the application; or

(b) [Section 24 Subsection (2) amended by No. 51 of 2015, s. 22, Applied:01 Sep 2016] if of the opinion it is in the public interest to refer the application to the Commission, is to, within 30 days after public notice of the application is given under , refer the application and any representations made under to the Commission for a hearing.