Alcohol policy changes ‘need scrutiny’

THE impact of changes to alcohol policy in the Territory should be monitored closely by a high-level committee

THE impact of changes to alcohol policy in the Territory should be monitored closely by a high-level committee.

Criminal Lawyers Association of the NT president Russell Goldflam urged the Government to “keep a close eye” on alcohol-related harm statistics during changes, such as the reintroduction of the Banned Drinkers Register.

Data on alcohol-related emergency admissions to hospital, women’s shelter numbers and police custody incidents are three ways this can be monitored, says Mr Goldflam.

His idea is to have a “high-level committee” made up of police officers and other stakeholders to oversee this.

“One of the things that we have never done in the Territory is properly monitor those indexes of alcohol-related harm and make that available to people who are responsible for implementing policy,” he said. “So if something swings upwards, you know about it really quickly and tweak policies to account for that.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the BDR will be rolled out within the first year of government in consultation with police, industry and health groups.

“Police at bottle shops will remain and will work in partnership with the BDR,” he said.

“Police, not politicians, will determine how those police operate, which bottleshops they attend and when. They are on the frontline and are best placed to make these decisions.”

But the Northern Territory Police Association wants police away from bottleshops “as soon as possible” and moved into more mobile roles.

“If it is going to take a long 12-18 months to get the BDR in place, there has to be something done between now and then. You can’t have 70 police tied up doing that,” NTPA president Paul McCue said.

“Surely you could supplement what’s happening as a static control at a bottleshops, by using some of those in a mobile role. I think the community has to understand that the police understand the seriousness of the alcohol abuse in the community.”

Independent MP For Araluen Robyn Lambley, a staunch supporter of temporary beat locations (TBLs), called for increased random checking of those entering bottleshops. She said police officers should be proud and embrace being part of the “most successful policy” in reducing alcohol-related harm.

“It is really important that we get it right,” she said.

“Just because the TBLs don’t work in Darwin, doesn’t mean Tennant Creek, Katherine and Alice Springs don’t need it. The Government has to listen to the community.”