Bendigo Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean under pressure over lapsed liquor licence
A Bendigo bar owned by the Nationals star candidate for the seat of Bendigo was selling alcohol while its licence was suspended this month, potentially attracting thousands of dollars in fines.
Andrew Lethlean, a long time publican, is running for the Nationals in Bendigo, a seat held by the ALP since 1998, has blamed the suspension on an "administrative oversight" which has now been rectified.
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The junior Coalition partner is throwing everything at the seat of Bendigo and have been talking up their chances of toppling MP Lisa Chesters.
Mr Lethlean is also the licence holder for The Social Bar and Eating House in Bendigo, and co-owner of the business.
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Records from Liquor Control Victoria show the bar's Victorian licence was "ceased in force", or suspended, as late as Saturday
But staff at the pub have confirmed it continued to operate as normal throughout April and they only recently became aware of the issue.
Social media posts from the venue also show it was open and selling alcohol during the time.
The licence has since been paid and reinstated but selling booze without a licence can carry significant penalties and raises questions about Mr Lethlean.
Mr Lethlean said there was an "administrative oversight" with the payment of the annual licence fee that caused the licence to be "ceased in force" for two weeks.
"As soon as this was identified, the fee was immediately paid. I've proudly run a business in Bendigo for many years, and accept responsibility for this mistake," he said in a statement.
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Mr Lethlean owns a bar in Bendigo that sold alcohol while its licence was suspended.
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The Victorian department of justice said it would not comment on individual cases.
"Liquor licence renewal fees were due on 31 December 2024. Liquor Control Victoria and Victoria Police are inspecting licensees who may be trading while their licences are suspended,'' a spokesperson from the Department of Justice said.
"If a licensee has not paid their liquor licence renewal fee by 31 March 2025, the licence is suspended (known as ceased in force). It is illegal for a licensee to supply liquor after this date if they have not paid their renewal fee."
Supplying liquor while the licence is suspended in Victorian can lead to thousands of dollars in fines, and in some serious cases imprisonment of up to two years.
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