About Liquor Control Victoria
Liquor Control Victoria is Victoria’s dedicated liquor regulator.
On this page
- Who we are
- What we do
- Our structure
- The Victorian Liquor Commission
- Our Commissioners
- Corporate documents
- Liquor regulations
Who we are
Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) is Victoria’s dedicated liquor regulator. It was established on 1 July 2022 under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998.
LCV brings together the Victorian Liquor Commission and specialist staff from the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS).
The Commission sets our direction, while our staff deliver day-to-day operations and support.
Together, the Commission and these staff make up Liquor Control Victoria.
What we do
We regulate Victoria’s liquor laws under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998.
Our vision is a safe, diverse and responsible liquor industry focusing on harm minimisation and community safety.
To achieve this, we:
- review and decide on liquor licence applications
- help businesses understand and follow liquor laws and regulations
- investigate and respond to breaches of the law
- enforce rules that reduce alcohol-related harm
- promote a safe and responsible liquor industry in Victoria.
Our vision, goals and priorities are in the Liquor Control Victoria Strategic Plan 2023-2026.
Read about the Liquor Control Victoria Regulatory Approach 2025.
Our structure
LCV’s Chief Operating Officer, Chris Carter, oversees our operations. He ensures we deliver services that are efficient and effective.
We deliver our work in 3 divisions:
Compliance – Led by Lisa Faldon (Director, Compliance), this division is responsible for conducting venue inspections, ensuring rules are followed and liquor is supplied lawfully. It conducts investigations into matters of serious non-compliance. It is also responsible for education and training, data collection and analysis.
Licensing and Transformation – Led by Erin Williams (Director, Licensing and Transformation), this division reviews and decides on liquor licence applications and works on improving how LCV operates.
Legal, Policy and Harm Minimisation – Led by Marc Fisken (Deputy General Counsel and Director, Legal, Policy and Harm Minimisation), this division provides legal support for LCV, secretariat support for the Commissioners and helps implement government policy.
The Victorian Liquor Commission
The Victorian Liquor Commission was established on 1 July 2022 under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998.
The Commission, supported by LCV staff, is responsible for:
- licensing, approvals, authorisations and registrations
- regulatory, investigative and disciplinary functions
- promoting and monitoring compliance
- detecting and responding to breaches of the law
- advising the Minister on the operation of the Act and regulations, including the Commission’s functions
- implementing Government policy on the supply and consumption of alcohol
- informing and educating the public about regulatory requirements.
The Commission holds hearings to decide important matters about liquor licences and permits. Read about liquor licence hearings and decisions.
It also has a broader regulatory policy role. It monitors emerging issues that affect the Victorian community and liquor industry to make sure the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 and its regulations remain effective.
Some of the Commission’s powers are delegated to LCV officers.
Our Commissioners
The Commission consists of the:
- Chairperson
- Deputy Chairperson
- Commissioners
- Sessional Commissioner.
Open all
- John F Larkins – Chairperson and Commissioner
Mr Larkins has been a barrister since 1975. He practises in civil litigation and common law, especially in the areas of liquor licensing, gaming, gambling and administrative law.
As a barrister, he appeared regularly before the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (now the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission), the Liquor Licensing Commission, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
Mr Larkins holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.
- James O’Halloran PSM – Deputy Chairperson and Commissioner
Mr O’Halloran has provided advice to federal government agencies on regulatory, compliance and governance arrangements. He has held senior executive roles in regulatory, compliance and enforcement areas.
From 2007 to 2021, he was a Deputy Commissioner with the Australian Taxation Office, with national roles accountable for policy reforms and program implementation.
He holds a Master of Corporate Law and a Bachelor of Arts.
- Steven Brnovic – Commissioner
Mr Brnovic is a barrister at the Victorian Bar, specialising in administrative law, with a focus on professional regulation, reviews of government decisions and integrity frameworks. He is also a member of the Independent Panel of Reviewers under the Legal Aid Act 1978, member of the Law Institute of Victoria Administrative Law Accredited Specialisation Subcommittee and member of the Council of Australasian Tribunals.
Prior to joining the Bar, Mr Brnovic was Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, and General Counsel for Commercial Passengers Vehicles Victoria, senior managing lawyer with the Taxi Services Commission and senior solicitor for the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office.
Mr Brnovic was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2006. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 2008.
He holds a Master of Public and International Law from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University.
- Susan Daphne Timbs – Commissioner
Ms Timbs is a member of the Independent Review Panel and was recently appointed a director of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. She is an experienced director and chair of not-for-profit organisations.
Ms Timbs was CEO of the EndUCD Foundation and was an executive director at The Energy and Resources Law Association. She was also a consultant at Mallesons Stephen Jaques and a partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Ms Timbs holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland.
- Thu-Trang Tran – Sessional Commissioner
Ms Tran is a non-executive director on several boards:
- Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
- coHealth
- Language Loop - Victorian Interpreting and Translating Service
- auDA (.au Domain Administration)
- Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand. She has previously held executive roles in regional and state peak not-for-profit organisations and was a Commissioner on the Victorian Building Authority Board.
In her time in the Victorian Government, she led and delivered substantial national and state reforms in the areas of consumer policy, charity and fundraising, and residential tenancies.
Corporate documents
Ministerial Statement of Expectations PDF 161.04 KB (opens in a new window)
Liquor Control Victoria reports on its activities in the DJCS annual report.
Liquor regulations
- Liquor Control Reform Regulations 2023
- Liquor Control Reform (Prohibited Supply) Regulations 2025
- Liquor Control Reform (Prescribed Class of Premises) Regulations 2008(opens in a new window)
Updated 9 December 2025
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