The objections to Dan Murphy’s Darwin

The main arguments against Dan Murphy’s bid to launch in Darwin have been lodged in court documents revealed here, with the merchant’s legal fight continuing today.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Dan Murphy's Darwin store. Picture: Supplied

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The main arguments against Dan Murphy’s bid to launch in Darwin have been lodged in court documents revealed here, with the merchant’s legal fight continuing today.

The arguments centre around the location of the store next to the Bagot Community, the impact it could have on competing stores and the issue of the high level of harm caused by grog in the Territory already.

Key to today’s hearing is the location of the store, the main reason why the store was rejected in the first place.

Bagot Community leader Helen Fejo-Frith said a Dan Murphy’s up the road from the community would normalise heavy drinking and influence childer. Picture: Amos Aikman

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WHO’S objecting to Dan Murphy’s

LOCATION

Helen Fejo-Frith, Bagot Community

With the Bagot Community just a couple of hundred of meters away from the proposed store, Bagot Community advisory group president Helen Fejo-Frith said the proximity would have lasting impacts on the community and see alcohol related problems become normality to community members.

“It’s the children that are watching this … day-to-day,” she said.

“As they get older, they’re just going to naturally think, ‘oh this is what our parents did, so we can do the same’.”

Ms Fejo-Frith also said community members tempted by the closeness of the store wouldn’t heed to traffic rules and would cross the dangerous six-lane Bagot Rd in order to get there.

back in 2017, independent retailers Kelly Hope, Warrenne Ekins, Darryl Thomas, Geoff McGill and Neville Pantazis began banding together to unite against Dan Murphy's coming to Darwin, saying they will go out of business if the giant comes to town. Picture: Elise Derwin

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COMPETITION

Existing bottle shops

Dan Murphy’s entry into the market would creative lower prices but independents argued it would come at a cost to their businesses as well as the community.

“While Dan Murphy’s, with its promise of lower prices, would likely offer beer at the lowest cost, its competitors would probably also reduce prices to maintain market share,” lodged documents says.

“(But) an increase in alcohol-related harms arises through both the better availability and lower liquor prices for the problem drinker through greater competition.”

Many independents feel they would lose money from trying to match those cheap prices or would simply lose customers.

IN OTHER NEWS

ALCOHOL RELATED HARM

Trish Hepworth, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education policy and research director Trish Hepworth said policies which had so far stopped the liquor merchant from setting up shop needed to be respected.

“The NT Government’s alcohol reforms have led to significant reductions in alcohol-fuelled harm across the Northern Territory, including assault and alcohol-related family violence,” she said.

“Allowing Dan Murphy’s in Darwin would reverse this lifesaving trend, with data showing that every packaged liquor outlet that’s built leads to a 35 per cent increase in intentional injuries, including assaults.”

But Dan Murphy’s have their own arguments to support establishment of the business, including the economic benefits which could see hundreds employed during the construction phase, and dozens in permanent positions during the operation of the business.