Gunner says BDR racism claims untrue

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has rubbished claims Aboriginal people are being racially discriminated against at Territory bottle shops

Michael Gunner says everyone must show identification to buy takeaway alcohol in the NT — regardless of race Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has rubbished claims Aboriginal people are being racially discriminated against at Territory bottle shops.

Amnesty International secretary-general Kumi Naidoo has accused the NT of implementing policies akin to apartheid when it comes to the sale of takeaway grog.

Mr Gunner dismissed the claims.

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“It’s absolutely not true,” he said. “It’s the kind of story that makes you angry, to be honest.”

Mr Naidoo told the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast program he witnessed black people being forced to show identification when they purchased alcohol in Alice Springs, but said white people were not asked for ID.

“So I went with the indigenous colleague of mine and we observed first what was happening. So several people were coming to buy, they were mainly white, and there was no request for the ID,” he said.

“So, when we got up there to buy a bottle of wine, we were asked for identification and my colleague Tammy said ‘why are you asking’ and the guy said ‘You know how it is’. And then she said to him ‘Is it because we are black?,” and he said ‘You know sister, that’s how it is’, And it was clear, black and white, that it was because of race.”

But Mr Gunner said under the Banned Drinker Register everyone in the Northern Territory, including the chief minister, had to show identification before they could buy alcohol.

“I’m always asked for my ID when I purchase alcohol, sometimes I leave my licence in the car they bounce me, or I go get my licence, which is correct, that’s absolutely what they should do,” he said.

“They ask everybody for their ID. It’s impossible to buy alcohol in the NT without showing your ID.”

The Government’s policy of having police auxiliaries on bottle shops in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs has previously attracted criticism with some accusing these officers of unfairly targeting Aboriginal people.

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But Mr Gunner said he was comfortable the policy, which has helped see a dramatic decrease in alcohol-related assaults, was not racist.

“We are aware of the accusations. It’s something I’ve discussed with the police before because you never want to have those perceptions, and it’s just not true,” he said.

“This is a policy that applies equally to everybody.”