‘Absolute disgrace’: AMSANT boss John Paterson warns Dan Murphy push sets a dangerous precedent
THE NT Government risks undoing years of alcohol reform work by pushing through new licensing laws for a Darwin Dan Murphy’s super store, a peak health body has warned
Northern Territory
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- Decision due on Darwin’s Dan Murphy’s superstore by December 20 as laws come into effect
- Bagot Community elder Helen Fejo-Frith flips position on Dan Murphy’s again, now opposing the project despite planned relocation
THE NT Government risks undoing years of alcohol reform work by pushing through new licensing laws for a Darwin Dan Murphy’s super store, NT’s peak Aboriginal health body has warned.
The chief executive of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), John Paterson, said he believes the government has “completely disgraced” itself by introducing a fast-tracked decision process for a proposed Dan Murphy’s store in Darwin.
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The NT Director of Liquor Licensing now has until December 20 to decide on the application.
“It’s going to bring all that positive, good work that Minister Fyles has led (on alcohol reform) in the community undone,” Mr Paterson said.
“If Dan Murphy’s gets the green light, this is going to have quadruple effect on all the disastrous alcohol related fatalities, kids with FASDs (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) and the health impacts on the most vulnerable population here in the Northern Territory, meaning the Aboriginal community.
“I can assure you that Aboriginal Territorians are up in arms about this — we won’t forget it.”
Mr Paterson warned the law change could set a “dangerous precedent” for other liquor applications in the future that may be controversial.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles defended the government’s decision and said they were still committed to delivering “world leading” alcohol policies.
“This is a decision to provide certainty to community, certainty to business,” she said.
“There’s not one measure that will solve the Territory’s problems with grog and these measures also need to be agile going forward.
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“We need to make sure we do those evaluations and then see what do we need to change, so that we can continue to keep the community safe.”
Originally published as ‘Absolute disgrace’: AMSANT boss John Paterson warns Dan Murphy push sets a dangerous precedent
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