The ACT Government has amended the regulatory processes for Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification and training, to make it easier for interstate hospitality workers to be able to be employed in the ACT.
Interstate RSA certificate holders can now complete the ACT refresher course instead of the ACT full course when their interstate certificate expires.
Minister for Business and Better Regulation Tara Cheyne emphasised the importance of supporting local businesses to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
"The Better Regulation Taskforce has been working with the business community to break down barriers to doing business in the ACT.
"Reviewing and amending the RSA certification regulatory process was identified as one way to support businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry. Now an interstate worker only has to do the refresher course, costing them less and taking fewer hours to complete.
"By streamlining the time businesses, particularly small businesses, and potential employees spend on government administration, we hope to make it easier to do business and work in the ACT."
The Commissioner for Fair Trading has declared that an ACT refresher course is sufficient to achieve the objectives of the ACT Liquor Act 2010 and the harm minimisation and community safety principles for interstate RSA certificate holders upon expiry of their interstate certificate.
This regulatory change is part of a broader move by the Taskforce to put in place the best settings for business recovery, longer-term growth and regulation in the ACT.
"Cross-border regulation is something that the business community has highlighted as an issue when it comes to getting workers into the ACT. By reducing and removing unintended barriers to occupational mobility, we hope to support local business as they look to recruit and retain qualified staff.
"Reciprocal recognition of licences to support occupational mobility from interstate is identified in the Better Regulation Report.
"The Better Regulation Report has provided an agenda for ways the government can support businesses in the ACT. It's about finding the right balance between regulatory settings and good outcomes for business, consumers, and the community.
"Reviewing interstate reciprocated recognition of licences is just one of many steps we're taking to streamline processes and approvals to make it easier to start up, run and grow a business in the ACT," said Minister Cheyne.
