Alcohol reforms have reduced crime Health Minister says

THE floor price of grog will remain in place as long as Territory Labor is in government, Health Minister Natasha Fyles said as she handed down its latest update on the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan

Ms Fyles said the NT Government’s plan was working. Picture: ISTOCK

A FLOOR price on grog will remain in place as long as Territory Labor is in government, insists Health Minister Natasha Fyles.

Ms Fyles this morning handed down its latest update on the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan, which she said showed alcohol reforms in the NT had reduced crime and alcohol-related emergency department visits.

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The report shows more than 8000 people have been put on the Banned Drinker Register since September 2017, and NT-wide ER presentations had dropped by 24 per cent in December 2018 compared to 2017.

Ms Fyles said the report showed measures to date were working.

“In terms of the smaller regions, we are seeing — with the point of sale intervention, the Police auxiliary liquor inspectors, the BDR and the floor price we are seeing significant reductions in harm from alcohol but there is a lot more work to do which is why we will stay focused,” she said.

“The next phase will be a complete rewrite of the Liquor Act. We’ve just closed consultation about the risk-based licencing.”

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However, Ms Fyles said the draft Act wouldn’t be ready until at least April.

“We’ve been working as efficiently as we can,” she insisted.

“A year ago we handed down our response to the Riley Review, we’ve provided a six month update and this is the next update in that.

“It’s a huge body of work.”

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Ms Fyles said there were 75 recommendations in place as part of the Riley Review.

“70 are tied up in the rewrite of the Liquor Act, and the remaining recommendations are ongoing,” she said.

Ms Fyles was also pleased to see an increase in help-seeking behaviour.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in people attending the sobering up shelter, we’ve extended its operation to 24/7 — it’s important we have a safe place to bring people,” she said.