Media Release

DOZENS of eastern-suburb sporting clubs are crying foul after being hit with a 300 per cent hike in liquor licensing fees.

Melbourne Winter Baseball League administrator David Rice said the annual fee for the league's 25 clubs had increased from about $97 in 2009 to about $400 this year.

Mr Rice said the increase which came into effect on January 1 under the State Government's new liquor licensing system was ``grossly unfair''. ``We play a game of baseball, have a couple of beers and then go home, but they are treating us like we are a hotel,'' Mr Rice said.

State Liberal Kilsyth MP David Hodgett said many other clubs, including Mooroolbark Bowls Club, had been slugged with the increase.

He said the law was ``nothing more than a tax grab''.

Ringwood Baseball Club trea-surer Paul Tyndall said most clubs had no alcohol-related troubles and only had a licence for two days a week for six months a year.

``The cricket clubs have to pay the same fee for the other six months,'' Mr Tyndall said. ``The issue is with the inner-city nightclubs, which we are led to believe is why the government raised the fees.''

Croydon Baseball Club secretary Julian Powell said the club would have to pass the rise on through membership fees. ``It does not sound like a hell of a lot of money, but it is the equivalent of putting a team on the field,'' Mr Powell said.

State Government spokesman Chris Owner said licensees could apply for hardship concessions and were advised of that option in writing by Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson. It may lead to the increase being waived.

But Mr Rice, who is also treasurer of the Knox Baseball Club, said he was not notified of the exemption. ``My argument is . . . why should we, as an amateur club with no history of violence, have to apply for an exemption?'' he said.