Robyn Lambley’s bottle-o racism claims slammed by top cops

The NT’s top cop has labelled a story Robyn Lambley told about a non-Aboriginal man being refused alcohol from a bottle shop because his Aboriginal friend didn’t have ID ‘unfortunate’ while the Police Association boss has said the comments were ‘disgusting and disrespectful”.

Northern Territory Police Association president Paul McCue said criticism on Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALI) from the Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley were “disgusting and disrespectful.”

Ms Lambley, speaking on the new liquor bill, told NT parliament on Wednesday night she was a “big fan” of PALIs and said they were the most effective measure Alice Springs had had against alcohol abuse in more than 25 years.

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But she said she was told by a non Aboriginal constituent, who said he was not a big drinker, he has been refused alcohol by a PALI at the Gap View Hotel bottle shop because his Aboriginal non-drinking friend did not have ID.

“The PALI asked for her identification and she did not have any; she was simply accompanying her friend in the car,” she said.

Robyn Lambley told parliament there were big problems with alcohols inspectors at Alice Springs bottle shops. Picture: Daniel Hartley-Allen

“Because she did not have identification, he was refused alcohol. This man came to me in pieces.

“He was completely devastated, shattered by the whole experience.

“There are problems, big problems, with the way in which things are happening — the checking by the PALIs of people coming in and out of bottle shops in Alice Springs.

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But Paul McCue was not happy about the criticism.

“In the same breath, the Member for Araluen pledges her full support for PALIs, then alleges implied racism and accuses our members of abusing their powers,” he said.

“This is the same person who was stomping her feet demanding police be stationed at bottle shops, and now we see outrageous verbal attacks on those hard-working officers she so desperately wanted.

“These disgraceful comments must be retracted, and a public apology issued.”

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NT Police Acting Commissioner Michael Murphy said he was proud of the PALI’s work.

“Since the introduction of PALI’s in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine, we have seen first hand the positive impact, not only in the drop in alcohol-related assaults, but reductions in hospital admissions, protective custody apprehensions and improved community amenity in public areas,” he said.

“The unfortunate recent commentary about PALIs in Alice Springs is disappointing,” he said.

“ It does not reflect the tireless efforts of the men and women of the Northern Territory Police Force to address the harm that alcohol causes within our community.”