Review clears way for significant changes

FORMER chief justice Trevor Riley’s review into alcohol policies in the Northern Territory will now clear the way for significant changes to the Gunner Government’s alcohol policies

Northern Territory Minister for Health Natasha Fyles. Picture: Emma Murray

FORMER chief justice Trevor Riley’s review into alcohol policies in the Northern Territory will now clear the way for significant changes to the Gunner Government’s alcohol policies.

Already the Attorney-General Natasha Fyles has enacted a complete moratorium on all new takeaway licences including greenfield sites.

The recommended reforms, if fully adopted, will change the alcohol landscape here and be the topic of much discussion between now and their final adoption – most likely with a drink of alcohol in hand.

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There has already been plenty of debate about the Dan Murphy law that saw the Gunner Government rush through laws to restrict the size of alcohol barns to 400sq m.

This was a foolish action and hurt the Government which walked away from its promise of restoring trust in Government when it enacted it.

“I got that wrong,” Mr Gunner said at a media conference on Thursday. Indeed he did.

This aside the report contains other more significant recommendations for Territorians to contemplate.

They include a floor price or volumetric tax on alcohol products, the return of a Liquor Commissioner and legislating to make it an offence for a person to operate a boat with a blood-alcohol content above 0.05.

Of particular interest will be the success or otherwise of the proposed floor price.

A floor price is a minimum amount under which alcohol cannot be sold.

Floor price proponents say it reduces the quantity of bargain-priced alcohol downed by heavy drinkers, and binge drinkers.

Heavy drinkers are price sensitive and some will reduce consumption as a result of the price.

However in the Territory there is plenty of evidence that some hardened drinkers will pay the price for alcohol with little regard for the cost.

It just means their money runs out quicker or some will turn to other illegal means to get it. So the positive social success may well be questionable.

Liquor producers are the main opponents of a floor price and retailers such as Dan Murphy’s, which often sell to bargain hunters.

However a minimum floor price also increases revenue to alcohol retailers.

The return of a Liquor Commissioner is a good thing.

Decisions made will be fully at arm’s length from Government.

The current system has attracted much criticism.

Making it an offence for a person to operate a boat with a breath or blood-alcohol level above 0.05 per cent may well be taking away another freedom from our boaties but it is the right thing to do in the interests of on-the-water safety.