‘We clearly failed’: Woolworths apologises for failure to properly consult with Indigenous stakeholders during Dan Murphy’s proposal

Woolworths Group has released the report from an independent panel review it commissioned into its proposed Dan Murphy’s development in Darwin.

WOOLWORTHS Group has released the report from an independent panel review it commissioned into its proposed Dan Murphy’s development in Darwin which found it failed to effectively consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders throughout the process.

A letter from Woolworths Chairman Gordon Cairns, chief executive Brad Banducci and Sustainability Committee Chair Holly Kramer to Panel Chair Danny Gilbert said the report is “an important turning point for our long-term engagement with Australia’s First Nations’ peoples.”

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“The Independent Panel’s reflections on the issues of corporate purpose, citizenship, reputation, legitimacy and trust highlight issues that go to the core of how we, as an organisation, seek to operate,” the letter said.

“In that context, the quality of our engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is critical.

“As the report highlights, on this occasion we clearly failed to meet our expectations and we deeply regret our insensitivity to critical stakeholders in Darwin and beyond, and our own external Indigenous Advisory Panel, whose advice we did not seek. For that, we unreservedly apologise.”

The letter said Woolworths will now “implement several initial, practical measures in the near-term” to address their failures.

Woolworths scrapped their plan to build a Dan Murphy’s superstore near the Darwin airport in April after a long-running battle.

The report also found the NT Government’s changes to its liquor licencing laws in 2020 to help push the proposal through “did not … constitute good public policy.”

It also said the government “departed” from one of the Riley Review into alcohol policy handed down in 2017.

“One of the key recommendations of the Riley Review was that hearings should be open and transparent and determined by an independent body.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner hit back in a statement, saying: “The Government won’t take advice on alcohol policy and the complexities of this issue from the largest alcohol distributor in the Territory, or, an east coast lawyer who flew in for a few days, had a few chats and left.”

Danila Dilba chief executive Olga Havnen said the review was a win for the health of Indigenous Territorians.

“What’s happened here today is not just about Dan Murphy’s, and not just about Darwin. This is a landmark decision that will have important implications for the liquor industry and corporate Australia, and governments,” she said.

“The report raises serious concerns about why the NT Government so easily bowed to pressure from Woolworths and supported a decision that was against the recommendation of the NT Liquor Commissioner, against the findings and recommendations of the Riley review, and against the interests of the Darwin community.

“There’s an astounding hypocrisy at play in some of these large corporations. On the one hand, they want to be seen supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Closing the Gap; on the other hand, they wilfully ignore the wishes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are right in front of them.”

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