Alcohol restrictions in Barkly region to be reviewed

A REVIEW into takeaway alcohol restrictions in the Barkly region will be undertaken within months

Liquor restrictions to undergo review. Picture: NTPFES

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A REVIEW into takeaway alcohol restrictions in the Barkly region will be undertaken within months following its implementation more than two years ago.

A spokeswoman for Minister for Alcohol Policy Natasha Fyles said a notice to affected Barkly Region licensees and stakeholders from the Liquor Commission was being finalised for distribution this week.

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The current restrictions include only allowing the sale of takeaway alcohol between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Saturday in Tennant Creek and only allowing purchase of two bottles of wine per day.

The commission initially decided to retain the alcohol restrictions due to the high levels of alcohol supply and consumption and to manage intolerable alcohol-related harm in Tennant Creek.

A six-month review was planned but was not conducted, because the commission found it would be premature until a similar inquiry into takeaway licences had been completed in Alice Springs.

Shadow spokesman for alcohol policy Gerard Maley said this week the overdue review was necessary to assess the policy’s effectiveness.

“When the restrictions … were put in place in early 2018, the Liquor Commission said it should review the restrictions in six months,” Mr Maley said.

Instances of alcohol-related assault are up 48 per cent in Tennant Creek from 2018 to 2020 while break-ins are up 300 per cent since 2015.

“We need to understand the impact these restrictions are having on the ground,” Mr Maley said. “Are they having the desired effect? Is there a link between crime trends and the restrictions?”

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Member for Barkly Steve Edgington said there was anecdotal evidence the Barkly restrictions were “causing the sale of alcohol to go underground”.

“There is no question that secondary supply should be investigated as part of the review,” Mr Edgington said. “It’s time to get the review done in full consultation with people in Tennant Creek to determine a community-led solution.”

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