NT mayors, retail leaders, unions call for changes to takeaway alcohol stores

Industry leaders and Top End mayors have called for a suite of changes to the way people buy alcohol. Here’s what they’re calling for.

Bottleshops fitted with security screens and reducing the number of outlets across the Territory are among a range of extreme measures industry groups and leaders are calling for in the wake of Declan Laverty’s alleged murder.

The SDA has called for NT WorkSafe to conduct physical reviews of all liquor stores across the Northern Territory and “other exposed sites” with a view of improving worker safety.

Secretary Josh Peak said it wanted the review for things such as physical screens, barriers and alternative exits.

“All workers deserve a safe workplace that is free of any hazards or threats to their safety,” he said.

“No retail worker should have to worry if they will come home alive the next day.

“Incidents like this underline the risk that workers in vulnerable workplaces face.”

The SDA is working with Endeavour Group and the Territory government.

Top End mayors have also called for a range of changes to alcohol supply after what NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said it felt like “a turning point” in terms of anti-social behaviour.

“We absolutely can’t see this happen again, there has to be change, and it has to happen soon.”

Mr Ireland called on the government to increase punishment for offenders.

“The deterrence of consequence is something that seems to have been absent for a while,” he said.

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said his organisation had been pushing for a reform on trespass laws.

The Chamber of Commerce has been working with the government to develop trespass laws that would allow businesses to ban people from entering, but Mr Ireland admitted they would not necessarily stop extreme violent acts.

While measures such as hired guards, metal detectors or perspex security screens could help protect workers, Mr Ireland said the cost would make businesses less viable.

“All of those costs are ultimately going to get passed on to the consumer, which will have a significant impact on the price of whatever commodity it is that you’re selling.”

Mr Ireland said while the cost of violence and anti-social behaviour on Territory business was difficult to quantify, it was likely limiting tourism, keeping locals home at night out of fear, and costing shop-owners in restrictions and repairs.

“Now we’re starting to push into that grey area where you wonder if it’s even worth keeping your doors open,” Mr Ireland said.

Top End mayors call for reduction of bottle shop outlets

Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis said the money raised by minimum floor price taxes could be used to fund Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors outside Top End bottle shops.

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

“Having PALIs outside properties should be a condition of licence,” Mr Vatskalis said, conceding it could be unfeasible for small liquor stores.

“Do we really need the little corner store liquor shops?

“Very clearly the cause of our problems is alcohol – full stop.”

Lord Mayor of Darwin Kon Vatskalis has said having PALIs outside bottle shops should be a condition of having a licence. Photograph: Che Chorley

Mr Vatskalis also said the Territory government should learn from Queensland’s changes to bail laws, particularly to deal with youth crime.

“It saddens me that we now have a family that’s lost their son, a young person in the prime of his life,” he said.

“I’ve been in Darwin 30 years and I haven’t seen this kind of senseless level of violence in our community.

“If this isn’t a wake-up call then I don’t know what is.”

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the Top End had too many liquor stores to manage.

City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has asked the Territory government to consider buying back some liquor licences, saying the Top End has to many bottle shops to manage. Photograph: Che Chorley

She questioned whether smaller bottle shops could adhere to laws such as the banned drinkers register, as employees feared asking customers for their licence or refusing service.

“Our recent submission to the liquor review did request the government consider buying back some of those licences, particularly in areas where they aren’t able to abide by the laws, the problematic outlets,” Ms Pascoe-Bell said.

“We are very heavily saturated with the availability of liquor.

“That makes it incredibly difficult to manage.”

Ms Pascoe-Bell also said she was concerned about people walking through drive-through liquor stores.

BWS across the Territory have been closed and workers offered counselling following the alleged murder of Declan Laverty Sunday night. Picture: Matt Cunningham

Support for Declan’s family flows to ‘bring him home’

Friends of Declan Laverty’s family have started a GoFundMe page to repatriate the Cairns-born bottleshop worker to Queensland.

Organiser Nicole Taylor said the 20-year-old had been finishing his shift when he was allegedly stabbed and killed.

“He was just a young boy making an honest living and nobody ever would have thought that he wouldn’t return home,” she said.

Declan Laverty, 20, was allegedly stabbed to death at The Airport Tavern in Darwin about 9pm Sunday. Police are investigating a string of other incidents leading up to his death at the Jingili tavern. Picture: Facebook

“His mother would dearly love to bring him home to be buried, but as you can imagine, that comes with a financial burden.

“She has dedicated her life to helping others, and it would be great of our awesome community to do even a little to give back.”

Hospitality NT shared the fundraiser on Facebook.

“We know everyone in the Territory’s hospitality industry and broader community are so devastated and are looking at ways they can help,” the organisation said in a statement.

The campaign had raised more than $6400 as of 3pm on Tuesday.

Retail bodies launch Territory-wide safety review of stores

Endeavour Group – the major alcohol retailer, pub and pokies operator behind the Airport Tavern where Mr Laverty was stabbed – closed all BWS bottle shops across the Territory Monday and Tuesday.

CEO Steve Donohue, who travelled to Darwin after the incident, said counselling was being provided to all BWS and ALH Hotels team members.

“Our focus is their safety and wellbeing and we constantly assess and update security procedures in our stores to ensure they are fit for purpose,” Mr Donohue said.

“A full internal review of each of our sites in the NT and their security and safety measures has already commenced in the wake of this tragedy.”