‘How will government ameliorate the damage and harm that would come from overturned decisions of the Liquor Commission?’: Palmerston mayor

THE government turned their backs on the work that we have commenced and our commitment to change, without any consultation with key stakeholders … writes Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell

THE community have told us they have had enough of public drunkenness, drinking in public places, broken glass in sandpits and playgrounds, assaults, brawling and fighting day and night, disruption to the lives of working-class families subjected to commotion in public parks all night, and families being frightened and fed up with this behaviour occurring around their own homes.

The NT has the highest rate of alcohol- related deaths and disease in the country. It shouldn’t have taken the Riley report to point out we need less alcohol, not more.

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Just over two years ago, the City of Palmerston undertook significant work to redefine the way council listens to and works with the community. They were quite clear in what they wanted delivered: Family and Community, Vibrant Economy, Cultural Diversity, Future Focused, Environmental Sustainability, Good Governance. A key measure of success in delivering for Family and Community is “Reduced crime rates – specifically a reduction in alcohol-fuelled violence”.

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell. Picture: Keri Megelus Picture: Keri Megelus

City of Palmerston has been working tirelessly to deliver these objectives and has partnered with other government agencies and NGOs to deliver significant and rapid changes to the community, including banning drinking at Marlow Lagoon Reserve, working with police, Larrakia, Crown Lands, licensing and other stakeholders to tackle problem drinking spots and return our suburbs back to the families and communities who live here. All of our resources are limited, and we can only do so much within our means, however, moving people on, cleaning up broken glass and taking problem drinkers into custody only treats the symptoms of alcohol abuse and does not treat the cause of the problem.

The government’s adoption of the Riley report recommendations provided the community with a clear policy direction and guiding principles for liquor reform.

Regardless of whether individuals believe that specific aspects of the policy were good, bad or indifferent, these measures have been put in place for the benefit of the entire community, and were to be in place for five years until their effectiveness was reviewed.

But the government’s sudden backflip on liquor licensing through the latest amendment to the Liquor Act is not good governance and is a blight on established administrative decision making and the appeals process in the NT. While City of Palmerston and other stakeholders have been working with the government in good faith, the government turned their backs on the work that we have commenced and our commitment to change, without any consultation with key stakeholders.

This is not red tape reduction. This is stripping the Liquor Commission of their independence and stating clearly that NTCAT are incapable of conducting a merits review. This is placing administrative decision making back in the hands of the Minister’s representative without merit review and shunting aside the will, health and wellbeing of the community, which was the focus of the Riley report and government’s sound policy up until now.

This is not job making. Don’t be fooled, you will not pull yourselves out of economic woe by an increase of six jobs in the sale of liquor but you will further stretch policing, social, community and council services, while keeping problem drinkers supplied and the community fed up with public drunkenness, anti-social behaviour, fear and assaults.

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Alcohol is not a sector that drives economic growth. Alcohol is the industry that diverts vital public resources from health, policing, social, community and council services while dividing families and communities, not uniting them.

City of Palmerston remains opposed to the two licences now under review by the Director of Licensing within our municipality. Where does this end? How will government ameliorate the damage and harm that would come from overturned decisions of the Liquor Commission? How do you expect the stakeholders that have worked with you in good faith to trust your legislation and decision making moving forward?

Athina Pascoe-Bell is the mayor of Palmerston