Alice Springs takeaway alcohol restrictions extended for another 3 months

Restrictions on purchasing takeaway alcohol will continue in Alice Springs beyond the initial three-month period. Read why the CLP has labelled it a ‘cop out’.

Takeaway alcohol free days and restrictions on purchases will continue in Alice Springs beyond the end of the three month period the NT government initially flagged.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on Thursday announced restrictions on takeaway alcohol restrictions would continue in Alice Springs.

This means people looking to buy takeaway alcohol in Alice Springs will be limited to one sale per day, with takeaway alcohol only available between Wednesday and Sunday between the hours of 3pm and 7pm, except on Saturdays.

The restrictions were initially introduced in January as one of a number of government measures to address anti-social behaviour and crime in the Red Centre.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said no government had done more to curb the issue of alcohol-related harm in the territory, as the government extended its alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs.

They were initially put in place for a period of three months.

In its announcement, the government said since the alcohol restrictions were put in place alcohol-related emergency department presentations at Alice Springs Hospital have almost halved, and domestic violence has dropped by a third in the town.

These figures have been queried by Alice Springs locals, who said another spike in crime was occurring in the town.

The government said it continued to work with the federal government through the Office of the Central Australian Regional Controller to improve services in Central Australia as part of the commonwealth’s $250 million investment in the region.

It said the restrictions would continue while the work was under way.

It said alcohol restrictions would be extended until July 27, 2023, with data to be closely monitored while the government remained agile with policy settings.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said alcohol-related harm was one of the Territory’s biggest social challenges and “no government has done more to curb the issue”.

“From risk-based licensing to the Banned Drinkers Register, from the minimum floor price to our Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, and with record funding for alcohol treatment services and domestic, family and sexual violence, we continue to invest heavily in this space,” she said.

“Budget 22 saw the Territory Government invest a record breaking $54 million into the domestic, family and sexual violence space and Budget 2023 will continue this strong investment. In Alice Springs alone we provide $12 million worth of Alcohol and Other Drugs funding.”

Ms Fyles said work on the roll out of the $250 million federal government investment was underway, including youth outreach officers engaging with young people “seven nights a week till 3am”.

“Continuing these alcohol restrictions will allow us to further implement the federal government’s $250m investment into Alice Springs.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, alongside CLP members Bill Yan and Josh Burgoyne. Mr Yan said continued restrictions were a “cop out” while Mr Burgoyne said claims restrictions had helped the town were not backed up by data.

Health Shadow Minister Bill Yan queried if there was data to back up claims alcohol restrictions had helped Alice Springs.

“This morning’s announcement on alcohol from Natasha Fyles is frankly a cop out if it isn’t backed up with further commitments to do the work needed on alcohol policy,” he said

“Her comments saying that the restrictions are working, show how out of touch she really is with what we’re continuing to face every single day.

“The Chief Minister was only able to cite a reduction in hospital presentations as her evidence for success, and while that is an important measure, we know it goes far beyond that.”

Territory Families Shadow Minister Joshua Burgoyne said: “Every night we are still a town under siege from alcohol-fuelled violence”.

“These restrictions were meant only as a reprieve, not a long-term solution. One part of the plan, not a set and forget,” he said.

“The Chief Minister has been the Alcohol Minister for six years, to say she doesn’t have the data is just ridiculous.

“She can continue to say she’s doing the ‘hard grinding work’, that ‘it’s complex’ or that ‘she is absolutely focused’, but frankly we’re sick of the slogans that are not backed up by real

commitments to make a change.”