Dan Murphy’s to create 40 jobs, bring $15 million into NT economy, Liquor Commission hearing told

UPDATED: Dan Murphy’s proposed superstore will create at least 40 full-time jobs and its construction will bring at least $15 million to the NT economy, the Northern Territory Liquor Commission has heard

Dan Murphy's wishes it could have this sign up in Darwin. Picture: Matt Thompson

DAN Murphy’s proposed superstore will create at least 40 full-time jobs and its construction will bring at least $15 million to the NT economy, the Northern Territory Liquor Commission has heard.

Legal representatives for six of the 17 official objectors, including Danila Dilba Health Service, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, the Public Health Association Australia, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and the NT Council for Social services attended the first direction’s hearing for the application on Tuesday.

Darwin council representatives and independent member Gerry Wood were also there to hear the opening statements of the proposal, before the hearing was adjourned for a month.

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Legal counsel for the Australian Hotels Association was there to provide advice on behalf of local publicans, including the Beachfront Hotel’s Guy Dunne.

Australian Liquor Stores Association NT president, Faye Hartley, was also there but neither associations have lodged an official objection.

The full list of official objectors was not publicly available on Tuesday.

The hearing opened with a statement from Commission chairman Richard Coates, clarifying any delays to the hearing had occurred due to outstanding documentation from the applicants.

Endeavour Drinks legal counsel Alistair Wyvill’s presented arguments to the opposing parties, saying the primary task of the liquor commission was to “regulate the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor” and to do it “in a way that takes into account the public interest in the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor”.

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Woolworths and Endeavour drinks would aim to do that with the establishment of Dan Murphy’s superstore in Eaton, Mr Wyvill said.

He said the construction phase alone would bring $15 million into the local economy and would create up to 163 jobs.

“Once open, Dan Murphy’s will produce 40 new permanent jobs and significant support of Darwin International Airport’s commercial precinct,” he said.

“Those benefits are uncontroversial — they will happen.”

The adjournment will allow Endeavour drinks to prepare relevant documents, including expert reports from an economist and a sociologist, which are due to be submitted to the Liquor commission by March 8, before they are distributed to objectors.

The hearing resumes on March 26

EARLIER: Dan Murphy’s Liquor Commission Directions hearing has been adjourned a month, to allow for the liquor merchants to prepare correct material for the hearing and distribute it to any objectors.

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Wednesday’s initial directions hearing at the NTCAT saw a number of Darwin publicans and various Aboriginal and health organisations among those at the hearing, which could see a Dan Murphy’s being established at a Liquor Commission directions hearing today.

Dan Murphy’s is owned by the Woolworths branch ‘Endeavour Drinks’ and the hearing kicked off with its counsel Alistair Wyvill’s opening remarks.

Mr Wyvill said the primary task of the liquor commission was to “regulate the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor” and to “in a way that takes into account the public interest in the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor”, which Woolworths and Endeavour drinks would aim to do with the establishment of Dan Murphy’s superstore in Eaton.

He said the construction phase alone would bring $15 million into the local economy and would create up to 163 jobs overseen months.

“Once open, Dan Murphy’s will produce 14 new permanent jobs and significant support of Darwin International Airport’s commercial precinct,” he said.

“Those benefits are uncontroversial — they will happen.”

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Mr Wyvill presented the arguments in front of 17 official objectors, including the Danila Dilba Health Service, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, the Public Health Association Australia, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and the NT Council for Social services.