Karaoke liquor charges

THE owner of North Hobart’s Superstar Karaoke venue has been charged with more than a dozen breaches of his liquor licence.

Qingxiang Meng, 29, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday to face allegations that date back to January and February 2020 — just months before he won the right to extend his opening hours beyond midnight.

The Mercury previously reported that last year Mr Meng applied to the Hobart City Council to extend his opening hours to 3am, in line with the hours of surrounding venues in Elizabeth St such as The Winston and Queens Head Hotel.

The city’s planning officers had recommended that council refuse Mr Meng’s application for extended hours because it would have an unreasonable impact on nearby residents.

In April 2020, however, Superstar Karaoke won the right to extend its hours after Hobart City Council members sided with Mr Meng rather than council officers — rejecting their recommendation 10- 2.

Mr Meng is charged with one count of failing to comply with the conditions of a liquor license, 12 counts of permitting patrons to enter outside authorised hours, and one count of failing to leave a licensed premises when required by a police officer.

On Wednesday, magistrate Robert Webster heard there was a parallel application to set aside a number of Mr Meng’s infringement notices.

Depending on the outcome of that application, Mr Meng may fight the 14 charges at an upcoming court hearing.

Superstar Karaoke opened in 2019 with 20,000 songs and 12 rooms.

It largely caters for the international market, but also caters for locals, with 3000 songs in English.

Mr Meng will return to court on March 5.