Free NT bus travel for three months, new alcohol powers to come into effect

Bus cops will soon have the power to tip out grog, on top of carrying OC spray, as it’s revealed the spray was used against a member of the public for the first time.

Bus travel will be free for three months from July, as transit officers welcome new powers to deal with alcohol. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Territorians will soon be able to travel on public buses for free, with all fares being waived for three months.

From July 1 to September 30, travel in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs will be free, something Transport Minister Joel Bowden said would be good for tourism and help keep buses running on time.

“From the first of July – Territory Day – all those people going down to Mindil Beach to watch the crackers go off, they’ll be able to travel for free, and then for the next three months,” he said.

“So it’s going to be good for Territorians, its going to be good for travellers, and it’s going to be really good for our timetable – the bus drivers won’t have the impost of having to ask for money.”

Alcohol Minister Brent Potter, Transport Minister Joel Bowden, Transit Safety Unit's Shane McCorkell, and Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Fia Walsh.

From July increased powers for transit officers will also come into effect, allowing them to tip out alcohol in prohibited places such as bus stops.

Laws granting transit officers the power to use capsicum spray were introduced last year, part of a suite of measures introduced in the wake of 20-year-old bottleshop worker Declan Laverty’s murder.

Shane McCorkell from the Transit Safety Unit confirmed the first case of OC spray being used by one of his team occurred this month.

“That was to save a person who was (allegedly) being assaulted – it wasn’t on a bus, it was at a bus station,” he said.

“The person was sprayed, subdued, we then go into an after-care with flushing the eye system.”

He said another person was also impacted by the spray as they tried to help the target.

In relation to the new alcohol tip-out powers, Mr McCorkell said training had been completed over 30 days in collaboration with NT Police.

From July increased powers for businesses selling alcohol will come into effect. Picture: Sam Boneham

Also from July, the on-the-spot penalty for patrons who fail to leave, or attempt to re-enter, a licensed premises after being barred will increase to five penalty units or $925.

Grocery stores and takeaway licensees can refuse service if their customer cannot state a legitimate place they intend to drink, and bottleshop guards can carry OC spray.

Alcohol Minister Brent Potter said the increased powers at bottleshops were to “protect life, after what we saw occurred with Declan Laverty”.

“We have strict measures in place, we have the banned drinker register, we now see the legitimate residence clause deployed, and we see OC spray – having a PALI across every bottle shop in Darwin is not feasible,” he said.

“These new laws are an extension of measures we saw brought in throughout Covid-19, they were effective then and will be effective now to drive down the number of problem drinkers in our public places.”