NT government-funded crowd controllers to be deployed at bottleshops

Government-funded crowd controllers will soon be deployed at Territory bottleshops as part of a ‘temporary’ measure to tackle crime.

Taxpayer-funded crowd controllers are set to soon be stationed at Territory bottleshops, pubs, clubs and licenced liquor stores, as part of a temporary measure to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime. Picture: Ivan Rachman

Taxpayer-funded crowd controllers are set to be stationed at takeaway liquor outlets across the Territory.

Applications for funding opened on Wednesday with businesses able to receive $45 per hour for each contracted crowd controller, over the next three months.

The temporary measure is one of several government announcements made in the wake of Declan Laverty’s tragic death.

Eligible businesses include grocery stores with a liquor licence, bars and clubs with an attached bottleshop and takeaway liquor outlets.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the grants were part of a “suite of measures” to improve community and worker safety where alcohol is sold.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has said no government has done more to tackle alcohol-related harm across the Territory. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

“We are putting Territorians first with world-leading alcohol reforms to cut alcohol-related harm and reduce anti-social behaviour in our community,” Ms Fyles said.

“This included measures like the banned drinker register, and risk-based licensing – but we know there is still more work to do.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce has thrown his support behind the move.

“We believe (it) will send the message that the threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by industry or the community,” Mr Bruce said.

“Staff and customers should feel safe in our bottleshops and this visible measure will go a long way help achieve that.”

However, a government spokeswoman said a total cap on the funding would not be determined until interest among the industry was gauged.

The measure falls short of Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis’ calls for police auxiliary liquor inspectors (PALIs) to be placed at every Top End bottleshop.

Several measures have been announced following the alleged stabbing murder of 20-year-old Declan Laverty at the Airport Tavern BWS last month. The bottleshop remains closed. Picture: Matt Cunningham

PALIs have been used in Alice Springs for several years but police have said they lacked resources to place them in Darwin.

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 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 grocery store licence buy-back scheme is under way as well, with the expression of interest period to close by the end of April.

The government has also passed bail reforms that introduce a presumption against bail for weapon-related offences, which apply to both youth and adults.

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