Chief Minister blames IT problem for seven-month delay in updating Banned Drinkers Register data

AN IT issue has been blamed for the Banned Drinker Register data not being updated online for months, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

AN IT issue has been blamed for the Banned Drinker Register data not being updated online for months, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

It comes after Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley pointed out that the BDR monthly report had not been updated for seven months.

Mr Maley queried how a proposal to make buying booze in the Barkly region tougher could be put forward when it could not be determined how the BDR was working.

“The Liquor Commission has flagged tougher restrictions on the purchase of alcohol in the Barkly region, yet the public reporting on data which is relied on to support the success – or otherwise – of the BDR has been completely ignored since before the last election,” Mr Maley said.

Mr Gunner, who revealed yesterday the government supported the commission’s work, said while the data had not collated properly, it did not mean the BDR was not working.

“It doesn’t impact the operability of the BDR at point of sale,” he said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has blamed an IT issue for the Banned Drinker Register data not being updated online for months. Picture: Brad Hunter

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Under the Liquor Commission’s proposal three hotels, the Tennant Creek Hotel, Goldfields Hotel and the Elliott Hotel, would be required to scan a patron’s ID each time they bought a schooner at the bar.

The proposal has come under fire from affected venues, Hospitality NT and the Barkly Regional Council.

Mr Gunner said the government had no plans for the proposal to scan a punter’s ID each time they got a drink to be adopted across the NT.

“It’s not an active policy consideration for us right now,” Mr Gunner said.

“The Liquor Commission’s made a decision around the Barkly, I get what they’ve done and they’ve done it based off specific things that they’ve seen in the Barkly.”

Mr Gunner said the Territory Labor government supported the Liquor Commission’s work

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The commission’s proposal would also see a cap of three purchases of takeaway alcohol per a residence, regardless of how many adults resided at a property.

Businesses have until February 3 to respond.