NT News editorial: Majority feel let down by Dan Murphy’s decision

JUDGING by the reaction of the vast majority of our readers since Woolworths scrapped its plan to build a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin, people are pissed off.

JUDGING by the reaction of the vast majority of our readers since Woolworths scrapped its plan to build a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin, people are pissed off.

This fight has been going on for years and after a huge rollercoaster, a Dan Murphy’s will not be built on Darwin Airport land.

Indeed, it looks like a Dan Murphy’s will not be built in Darwin for a very long time — if ever.

The pressure Woolworths copped from various health and indigenous groups was too much to bear in the end and the supermarket giant has pulled the pin.

Darwin will remain the only capital city in Australia without a Dan Murphy’s.

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, there are certainly mixed views about the impact a Dan Murphy’s would have had on alcohol consumption in Darwin.

Woolworths admitted they failed to properly consult interest groups over their Dan Murphy’s plan for Darwin.

Certainly, many in the powerful hoteliers lobby group will be celebrating this decision.

But will not proceeding with a Dan Murphy’s stop the seemingly out-of-control anti-social behaviour happening in Darwin right now? No.

Will it stop the rampant abuse and neglect of children in remote communities? No.

If there is one positive thing to come out of the scrapping of Dan Murphy’s it is that when indigenous groups stand up for their communities they can get results.

Hopefully now, these same health and indigenous groups will continue to focus on the core problems that eventually lead to alcohol abuse.

This has been a long and drawn out battle.

A majority of the population feel like they are now suffering because of the actions of a minority.

This has always been a problem in the Territory and it looks like it will stay that way forever.