Labor Opposition calls for urgent review of Northern Territory alcohol policy

The Opposition has accused the government of failing to show leadership on alcohol policy, calling for an expanded BDR, more PALIs and the reinstatement of the minimum unit floor pricing.

Northern Territory Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo has called on the CLP to ‘show leadership’ on alcohol policy. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The Northern Territory Opposition is calling for an urgent review of alcohol harm reduction measures, including the reinstatement of the minimum unit floor pricing, to curb a recent spike in problem drinking.

In the seven months since the 2024 election, alcohol-related assaults have risen by 8 per cent, with 220 more incidents recorded compared to the seven months prior.

Opposition Leader Selena Uibo put forward five priority areas for the government: to reinstate the minimum unit floor price; establish a dedicated taskforce to crack down on secondary supply; strengthen the Banned Drinkers Register; ensure Police Auxiliary Licensing Inspectors (PALIs) are present at bottleshops; and to ensure Alice Springs and Katherine have a full police presence.

Ms Uibo said it was worth exploring whether the BDR should be expanded to pubs and bars, not just takeaway booze – a proposal that is widely opposed by the hospitality industry.

She said that while PALIs were meant to be stationed at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine bottle shops at all times, this was not happening in practice.

“I live in Katherine myself, and I know that resources do get pulled from Katherine quite regularly,” she said.

“We need PALIs back on bottleshops in Alice Springs and Katherine at all times – and the government needs to be honest about the impacts that removing the floor price might be having on the current situation.

“Curbing alcohol-related harm must be a priority for the government – Territorians are dealing with this every day.

“It requires vigilance – and the willingness and ability to urgently review and revise harm reduction measures.”

Alcohol Policy Minister Steve Edgington. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Alcohol Policy Minister Steve Edgington said Labor had failed to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence “which destroyed the Territory community” when in power.

“Under Labor, domestic violence rose in Katherine 135 per cent, 101 per cent in Tennant Creek and 81 per cent overall for the Territory,” he said.

“We passed legislation to give police more powers to address nuisance public drinking and we’ve targeted alcohol restrictions in public housing properties.

“The alcohol floor price, introduced by Labor six years ago, is a blunt, ineffective tool that fails to address the complexity of alcohol-related harm in the NT.

“People aren’t drinking less; they have changed what they drink – from wine boxes to stronger spirits in glass bottles – which then can be used as weapons.

“Labor virtually got rid of PALIs, as they were offered the transition to constable course, of which most of them did.

“So, most of our PALIs are now full constables.

“There are constables on bottleshops when available, but this is an operational police decision.”

Originally published as Labor Opposition calls for urgent review of Northern Territory alcohol policy