Minister’s restaurant promise

COMMONWEALTH Games Minister Kate Jones is promising to look at waiving or reducing fees for restaurants to sell booze after midnight during next April’s event.

Ms Jones met Mayor Tom Tate and Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter yesterday to discuss how to progress engaging with stakeholders on Games licensing hours.

Afterwards, she said one thing they were working on was to allow “additional alcohol service” at restaurants in Safe Night Precincts like Broadbeach and Surfers.

Costa D’Oro Italian restaurant owner Michael Fusco said to extend his liquor licence after midnight would cost an extra $7000 — but no one would know demand for later dining until the Games.

Ms Jones said: “We’re working to allow additional alcohol service at restaurants. We will revisit the fee structure for relevant licence fees to make this work.

“We all want visitors to the Coast to have the best possible experience including opportunity to enjoy a safe night.”

Ms Jones said she was working closely with Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath to find “commonsense” outcomes.