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Can you afford to risk it – time for a health check on your venue’s compliance?

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The compliance obligations for a licensed venue are many and complex, with ever increasing penalties for breaches. The new industrial manslaughter legislation is active in many states and territories and already there have been several jail sentences (along with a hefty fine) handed down in workplace fatality cases.

A failure to report a Suspicious Matter Report on time could see fines from AUSTRAC of up to 100,000 penalty units for each breach (one penalty unit = $210). Providing false or misleading information in your annual Compliance Report is a criminal offence under the AML/CTF Act.

Can you afford that?

The importance of maintaining compliance under current legislative requirements cannot be understated. While balancing the various and competing demands of these regulatory accountabilities with your existing stakeholder commitments and business needs is difficult and time consuming — the alternative could be far worse.

It’s becoming all too commonplace in industry news; articles about businesses faced with large penalties, and infringements from breaches of regulatory requirements ranging from workers getting injured due to negligence, to breaches of the AML/CTF rules, as well as kitchen closures and improvement notices stemming from poor food safety standards. The list could go on.

So … How at risk are you?

Do you have an effective AML/CTF Program in place?
Is it up-to-date with current legislative requirements? How effective is your venue’s implementation of this program? When was the last time you had your program reviewed by an independent third party? Are you confident in your ability to pass an AUSTRAC inspection?

Do you have adequate safety systems in place?
Are your workers aware of those WHS policies and procedures implemented by the business? Are you discharging your duties to provide a safe work environment and safe systems of work? Do you know what the hazards are in your venue?

What about your food safety procedures?
How well would you rate if audited by your local council? Does your business have food safety monitoring procedures in place? What about schedules and procedures for cleaning and sanitising? Do you currently have a Food Safety Supervisor and adequate training systems in place to ensure the food you produce is safe?

Are you sure you are offering fair pay?
As a major cost for any business, do you accurately interpret and apply award provisions when calculating pay and conditions? Would your systems and process stand up under review by the Fair Work Ombudsman or Fair Work Commission? Are there ways for you to work smarter using award provisions to create efficiencies in the workplace?

Managing the day-to-day operations of your business is hard enough without having to deal with the legislative minefield illustrated above on your own! Don’t wait until it’s too late – it’s always best practice to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to compliance.

As industry leaders in safety and compliance support, we can deliver a tailored package to suit your specific needs and help protect you and your venue. Email Michelle Pitman at michelle@dws.net.au, or call 0401 014 619.  You can also visit our website https://dws.net.au/consulting-services/safety-and-compliance/.

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