Palmerston mayor says Top End pubs, clubs need RSA marshals

The Palmerston mayor has put forward an idea to tackle irresponsible service of alcohol in Top End pubs and clubs. Here’s how she says it would work.

Amid efforts to boost security at bottleshops, one Top End leader is urging the government to tackle alcohol issues inside licensed venues as well.

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has called for the instatement of alcohol marshals inside pubs, clubs and other licenced venues.

She said responsible service of alcohol marshals, which operate in NSW and Queensland, act as another set of eyes over risky behaviour.

“Their responsibility is to basically crowd watch and either encourage people to drink responsibly or drink water,” she said.

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has called for a suite of measures to manage alcohol in the Top End, including RSA marshals, the compulsory buyback of some liquor licences, and a local liquor accord to bring council in on decisions. Pictures: Glenn Campbell

“They advise the bar staff that they are not to serve those individuals any longer and encourage those people to leave.

“I think it would be highly beneficial, particularly for venues where the bar staff are too busy to actually monitor the crowd.”

Ms Pascoe-Bell said it was one measure that could result in “better regulation, enforcement and compliance with licensees”.

“I don’t see a lot of investigations happening in Palmerston into obvious breaches of the Liquor Act,” she said.

“It’s the responsibility of the licensee to make sure that people are drinking responsibly.”

The Fyles government has also moved on new laws to allow crowd controllers – as well as transit safety officers on Top End buses – to use capsicum spray.

However, the legislation will not pass until at least the next parliament sittings in May.

Legal experts have described the move as “concerning”, with detail lacking on the training, regulations and legislation around the measure.

A major review of the Liquor Act is under way.

The Alcohol Policy Coordination Unit has proposed giving security officers the power to search people and pour out their booze, as well as extending the moratorium on new liquor licences.

A report is expected to be tabled to the NT parliament before October this year.

Top End mayors welcome licence buyback scheme as a ‘first step’

An expression of interest period has opened for corner stores to sell their liquor licence back to the Territory government.

The EOI opened on Monday and will close on April 28.

Of the Territory’s 117 takeaway liquor licences, 51 are grocery store ancillary licences and eligible to take part in the buyback.

The move is one two Top End mayors have welcomed as a “first step” amid calls for other measures to manage alcohol in the community.

Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis has urged the government to forcibly buy back some grocery store liquor licences if not enough are voluntarily sold. Photograph: Che Chorley

However Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis and Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell have said the government should forcibly buy back some licences if there were not enough voluntary surrenders.

“I believe there are about 70 licences (in total) in Darwin which is enormous for a city of 80,000 people,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“We have reached a saturation point – enough is enough.”

Ms Pascoe-Bell said Palmerston had about 50 licences in total, about “one liquor licence per square kilometre”.

The City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell delivers the Draft Municipal Plan and Budget for 2021/2022. Photograph: Che Chorley

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles acknowledged the four-week buyback scheme may not result in a reduction of licensees.

“We may get no one that’s interested in selling them back to the government and I’m not going to waste taxpayer dollars,” she said on ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“We know how much profit these outlets make … we’re not going to spend millions buying back licences.”

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said she was seeking to establish a local liquor accord, bringing licensees and other local authorities together to “find a balance” between all parties’ expectations around the sale of alcohol.

”Council should be at the table along with all the licensees so that we are very clear about how we need to manage it and the reasons why,” she said.

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said her council has had “extensive issues” with people drinking and littering in public spaces. Picture: Floss Adams

She said some outlets “could not care less” what happens after they sell liquor.

“Unfortunately, it is everyone else except for the liquor outlet who has to do the cleaning up, whether that’s council picking up broken glass in playgrounds or just general rubbish in our public spaces.”

Ms Pascoe-Bell has also urged the government to extend its moratorium on issuing new licences, which is due to end in September.

“We’re also not comfortable with licences being transferred from outside Palmerston, which has happened in the past,” she said.

“It could be a licence in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs that apply to have their licence transferred to Palmerston, which only increases the density in our area.”

“The Territory Government has implemented a wide range of evidence based alcohol measures, and will continue to act within the best interests of Territorians,” a government spokeswoman said.

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