Government to force Liquor Commission’s hand on making quick Dan Murphy’s decision

A FINAL decision will be made on the Dan Murphy’s liquor application before Christmas with urgent legislation set to be tabled in parliament on Tuesday and passed this week

The planned intersection changes for the proposed Dan Murphy’s in Darwin

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A FINAL decision will be made on the Dan Murphy’s liquor application before Christmas with urgent legislation set to be tabled in parliament on Tuesday and passed this week.

The legislation change will force the Director of Liquor Licensing to make a decision on the Dan Murphy’s application within 30 days, in line with the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission’s recommendation that all NTG decisions should be made within 30 days or less.

It will also speed up an application from the Pirlingimpi community to reinstate their takeaway liquor licence originally lodged in 2015.

Small Business Minister Paul Kirby said the Dan Murphy’s case had dragged on and on and Territorians deserved an answer, while the Pirlangimpi community had simply been forgotten.

“It is unacceptable that businesses and the community should have to wait this long for an answer, yes or no, so we are moving urgent legislation to cut this decision making down to 30 days,” he said.

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“We want the Territory to be the easiest place to do business in the country – businesses need certainty to create jobs.”

Mr Kirby said keeping business moving was integral to helping the Territory rebound as strongly as possible from the coronavirus pandemic.

“One of the Commission’s key recommendations in its First Report was to make the Territory the easiest place in Australia to do business.

Concept art of the $6 million upgrades to the intersection which would see improved slip lanes and added pedestrian crossings to the Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied.

“Bringing in this legislation on urgency does just that.”

The government’s decision to put pressure on the Director of Liquor Licensing through the Bill has angered advocacy groups including the NT Council of Social Services.

This Bill only applies to these two applications made under the Liquor Act 1978 and will not affect applications, complaints or other matters made since the commencement of the Liquor Act 2019.

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Neither applicants will need to submit a fresh application if the bill is passed and will help the commission reach a timely final decision.