Bendigo Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean under pressure over lapsed liquor licenceBy Victorian state political reporter Richard WillinghamTopic:Elections27m ago27 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:48pmAndrew Lethlean is the Nationals candidate for the federal seat of Bendigo. (Facebook)In short:Andrew Lethlean is under pressure after a bar he owns in Bendigo served alcohol while its licence was suspended.Mr Lethlean is running as the Nationals candidate for Bendigo. Supplying liquor while a licence is suspended can lead to infringements of more than $47,000 or two-years jail. abc.net.au/news/andrew-lethlean-nationals-candidate-bendigo-liquor-licence-lapse/105230936Link copiedShareShare articleA 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.Stay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenThe 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.Follow the latest election newsPhoto 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 SaturdayBut 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:ANALYSIS: Why Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAustralia's next prime minister will inherit a 'world in disarray'Find out how your views line up with the major parties with Vote CompassWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageMr Lethlean owns a bar in Bendigo that sold alcohol while its licence was suspended. (Facebook)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.LoadingLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? 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