Alliance of Indigenous and health organisations to table plea against Dan Murphy’s superstore at Woolworths AGM

INDIGENOUS communities and health-related organisations will confront Woolworths at its Annual General Meeting today asking it to reconsider its plans to launch a superstore in Darwin

• Dan Murphy’s welcomes government push to have Director of Liquor Licensing to reach superstore decision
• Darwin Aboriginal communities back Dan Murphy’s proposal over objectors’ ‘racist intervention’
• Government to force Liquor Commission’s hand on making quick Dan Murphy’s decision

INDIGENOUS communities are reaching out to Woolworths at its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, pleading they reconsider their continued appeals to launch a superstore in Darwin.

It comes with the NT Government this week saying it would table legislation that would see a decision made on the new store before Christmas, in line with the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission’s advice to answer applications within 30 days.

In an open letter from 10 Indigenous and health related organisations including AMSANT, Danila Dilba, NTCOSS and FARE, the alliance said they had come too far in the fight against alcohol to see the right procedure bypassed.

“Our community is now on a path to a brighter future. Our kids are safer and our families are healthier with less alcohol washing through our streets,” they said.

“Don’t derail this important work. We ask you to stop this plan to profit from people who are at their most vulnerable.”

The alliance noted alcohol had significant impacts on nearby Indigenous communities in the past.

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“Alcohol is like no other product. It causes cancer. It fuels domestic violence. Drink-driving wipes out lives in an instant,” they said.

“We see families literally torn apart under the influence of the product your company sells. That’s why you must abandon your plans to build a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin.”

The AGM will take place as an online meeting under COVID-19 restrictions.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner backed his legislation, despite concerns it would swing the outcome in his government’s favour.

“This is all about cutting red tape, that’s why the Minister for Small Business is taking it forward,” he said.

A concept image of Dan Murphy’s proposed Eaton store and the upgraded Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied.

“This is about us, not making a decision, but making sure a decision is made, yes or no, we simply want a decision made, it’s now been four years long.”

But Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the chief minister looked to be finding a way of bypassing the liquor commission to arrive out their desired outcome.

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“(The NT Government) is circumventing its own liquor commission, the NTCAT, basically any law of the Northern Territory, creating a specific new law, just for Pirlingimpi, and for Dan Murphy’s to fix their absolute travesty of bungles over the last five years,” she said.

“Clearly, you’re independent liquor commission isn’t independent enough, isn’t timely enough, and you have failed.”