$425k beer lost is pour form
ABOUT $425,000 worth of beer will be dumped in Cairns and tipped out after a Supreme Court decision to close taverns in two Cape York communities.
More than 90,000 cans of beer owned by Kowanyama's canteen will be emptied at a Cairns recycling plant on Monday because the tavern is banned from selling it.
Kowanyama and Aurukun councils lost a fight against the State Government to keep their taverns open after amendments to the Liquor Act banned local government authorities from holding general licences.
A truck company is expected to haul 3240 cartons of beer on 36 pallets from Kowanyama to the Wanless Enviro Services depot today.
Council chief executive officer John Japp asked Liquor Licensing if the council could sell 12 pallets of beer below cost and said "they may send the council bankrupt".
Mr Japp said the money could have been spent on youth activities, parks and gardens.
Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser said the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing had tried to assist the council to dispose of liquor but he said most was past its best before date.
Cook MP Jason O'Brien said Pormpuraaw had been granted a club licence to operate from its canteen, Pormpuraaw United Brothers Sports Club, for 12.5 hours each week, and Kowanyama could have done the same thing.
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Down the drain: Kowanyama security staff for the town's canteen, Robert Holness and Ross Edwards, with the beer destined to be dumped.
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