Bendigo Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean under pressure over lapsed liquor licence
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.
Stay updated:
Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on
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.
Photo shows
ABC News Radio logo and the ABC Listen logo below it on a light blue background.
Hear the latest election news as it happens on the Election Central Playlist. Only on the ABC listen app.
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.
Read more about the federal election:
Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025
Mr Lethlean owns a bar in Bendigo that sold alcohol while its licence was suspended.
(
)
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.
Loading
Having trouble seeing this form? Try
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘They don't listen': Victoria's Voice proposal proof of Labor's ‘arrogance'
One Nation Chief of Staff James Ashby says Jacinta Allan's Victorian Voice to Parliament reflects the 'arrogance' of the Labor Party. 'This is just the arrogance of Labor, they don't listen to people,' Mr Ashby told Sky News host Paul Murray. 'It's hard to believe that this is a state that just completely ignores the wishes of the people of Victoria. 'It's so divisive.'
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hundreds spoke their truths on impact of colonisation
WHAT WAS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION? * Victoria's Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia * Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal * Established with royal commission powers * Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks * Yoo-rrook means "truth" in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE? * Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria * Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? * The Victorian Labor government committed to a truth and justice process in July 2020 * The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March 2021 * It officially launched in March 2022 following COVID-19 lockdown-related delays * The government granted a 12-month extension for its work to the end of June 2025 WHO APPEARED AT YOORROOK? * Public hearings began in April 2022 and lasted 67 days in total * Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards were among more than 200 witnesses * Premier Jacinta Allan and other government ministers also gave evidence * Then Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologised for police treatment of Indigenous people * The commission also received more than 1300 submissions and 10,000 documents from the state WHAT ARE ITS FINAL REPORTS? * Yoorrook for Transformation - Yoorrook's third and final report containing 100 recommendations over five volumes * Yoorrook Truth Be Told - a official public record that includes a detailed account of the history of Victoria since the start of colonisation and story of the commission WHAT ARE ITS KEY FINAL RECCOMENDATIONS? * The government must fund the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to set up a permanent truth-telling group to keep collecting stories and build a public record * Decision-making powers, authority, control and resources must be transferred to First Peoples to give full effect to self-determination * The government must shift prison healthcare from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health * The government must provide redress for injustices caused by the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples' lands, as well as damage and loss WERE THERE ANY CONTROVERSIES? * Three commissioners quit within the space of six months in 2022, and another resigned in 2023 * Commission chair Eleanor Bourke slammed the government in 2023 for delays in producing documents * Only four of Yoorrook's 46 recommendations from an interim report on Victoria's child protection and criminal justice systems were accepted by the government in full. Twenty-four were accepted in principle and three rejected outright * Yoorrook later said it was "beyond disappointed" with the government's inaction * Three of the five commissioners did not endorse the inclusion of the key findings in the Truth Be Told report HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE FINAL REPORTS? * It has acknowledged the final reports and will "carefully consider" its response to the findings and recommendations WHAT WAS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION? * Victoria's Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia * Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal * Established with royal commission powers * Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks * Yoo-rrook means "truth" in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE? * Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria * Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? * The Victorian Labor government committed to a truth and justice process in July 2020 * The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March 2021 * It officially launched in March 2022 following COVID-19 lockdown-related delays * The government granted a 12-month extension for its work to the end of June 2025 WHO APPEARED AT YOORROOK? * Public hearings began in April 2022 and lasted 67 days in total * Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards were among more than 200 witnesses * Premier Jacinta Allan and other government ministers also gave evidence * Then Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologised for police treatment of Indigenous people * The commission also received more than 1300 submissions and 10,000 documents from the state WHAT ARE ITS FINAL REPORTS? * Yoorrook for Transformation - Yoorrook's third and final report containing 100 recommendations over five volumes * Yoorrook Truth Be Told - a official public record that includes a detailed account of the history of Victoria since the start of colonisation and story of the commission WHAT ARE ITS KEY FINAL RECCOMENDATIONS? * The government must fund the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to set up a permanent truth-telling group to keep collecting stories and build a public record * Decision-making powers, authority, control and resources must be transferred to First Peoples to give full effect to self-determination * The government must shift prison healthcare from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health * The government must provide redress for injustices caused by the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples' lands, as well as damage and loss WERE THERE ANY CONTROVERSIES? * Three commissioners quit within the space of six months in 2022, and another resigned in 2023 * Commission chair Eleanor Bourke slammed the government in 2023 for delays in producing documents * Only four of Yoorrook's 46 recommendations from an interim report on Victoria's child protection and criminal justice systems were accepted by the government in full. Twenty-four were accepted in principle and three rejected outright * Yoorrook later said it was "beyond disappointed" with the government's inaction * Three of the five commissioners did not endorse the inclusion of the key findings in the Truth Be Told report HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE FINAL REPORTS? * It has acknowledged the final reports and will "carefully consider" its response to the findings and recommendations WHAT WAS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION? * Victoria's Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia * Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal * Established with royal commission powers * Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks * Yoo-rrook means "truth" in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE? * Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria * Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? * The Victorian Labor government committed to a truth and justice process in July 2020 * The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March 2021 * It officially launched in March 2022 following COVID-19 lockdown-related delays * The government granted a 12-month extension for its work to the end of June 2025 WHO APPEARED AT YOORROOK? * Public hearings began in April 2022 and lasted 67 days in total * Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards were among more than 200 witnesses * Premier Jacinta Allan and other government ministers also gave evidence * Then Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologised for police treatment of Indigenous people * The commission also received more than 1300 submissions and 10,000 documents from the state WHAT ARE ITS FINAL REPORTS? * Yoorrook for Transformation - Yoorrook's third and final report containing 100 recommendations over five volumes * Yoorrook Truth Be Told - a official public record that includes a detailed account of the history of Victoria since the start of colonisation and story of the commission WHAT ARE ITS KEY FINAL RECCOMENDATIONS? * The government must fund the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to set up a permanent truth-telling group to keep collecting stories and build a public record * Decision-making powers, authority, control and resources must be transferred to First Peoples to give full effect to self-determination * The government must shift prison healthcare from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health * The government must provide redress for injustices caused by the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples' lands, as well as damage and loss WERE THERE ANY CONTROVERSIES? * Three commissioners quit within the space of six months in 2022, and another resigned in 2023 * Commission chair Eleanor Bourke slammed the government in 2023 for delays in producing documents * Only four of Yoorrook's 46 recommendations from an interim report on Victoria's child protection and criminal justice systems were accepted by the government in full. Twenty-four were accepted in principle and three rejected outright * Yoorrook later said it was "beyond disappointed" with the government's inaction * Three of the five commissioners did not endorse the inclusion of the key findings in the Truth Be Told report HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE FINAL REPORTS? * It has acknowledged the final reports and will "carefully consider" its response to the findings and recommendations WHAT WAS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION? * Victoria's Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia * Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal * Established with royal commission powers * Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks * Yoo-rrook means "truth" in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE? * Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria * Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? * The Victorian Labor government committed to a truth and justice process in July 2020 * The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March 2021 * It officially launched in March 2022 following COVID-19 lockdown-related delays * The government granted a 12-month extension for its work to the end of June 2025 WHO APPEARED AT YOORROOK? * Public hearings began in April 2022 and lasted 67 days in total * Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards were among more than 200 witnesses * Premier Jacinta Allan and other government ministers also gave evidence * Then Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologised for police treatment of Indigenous people * The commission also received more than 1300 submissions and 10,000 documents from the state WHAT ARE ITS FINAL REPORTS? * Yoorrook for Transformation - Yoorrook's third and final report containing 100 recommendations over five volumes * Yoorrook Truth Be Told - a official public record that includes a detailed account of the history of Victoria since the start of colonisation and story of the commission WHAT ARE ITS KEY FINAL RECCOMENDATIONS? * The government must fund the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to set up a permanent truth-telling group to keep collecting stories and build a public record * Decision-making powers, authority, control and resources must be transferred to First Peoples to give full effect to self-determination * The government must shift prison healthcare from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health * The government must provide redress for injustices caused by the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples' lands, as well as damage and loss WERE THERE ANY CONTROVERSIES? * Three commissioners quit within the space of six months in 2022, and another resigned in 2023 * Commission chair Eleanor Bourke slammed the government in 2023 for delays in producing documents * Only four of Yoorrook's 46 recommendations from an interim report on Victoria's child protection and criminal justice systems were accepted by the government in full. Twenty-four were accepted in principle and three rejected outright * Yoorrook later said it was "beyond disappointed" with the government's inaction * Three of the five commissioners did not endorse the inclusion of the key findings in the Truth Be Told report HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE FINAL REPORTS? * It has acknowledged the final reports and will "carefully consider" its response to the findings and recommendations
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Mushroom jury finishes first full day of deliberations
The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning.
