No charges laid for supplying alcohol to someone on BDR or court since 2021

For almost two and a half years no one has been charged for supplying alcohol to someone on the banned drinker register in the Northern Territory.

Only three people have been charged for illegally supplying grog to someone on the BDR since 2021. Picture: Floss Adams.

No charges have been laid for the sly grog trade to banned drinkers in the Territory since 2021, when just three people were prosecuted.

In response to a written question from the Country Liberal Party, Attorney-General Chansey Paech revealed no one had been charged or convicted for supplying alcohol to someone on the Banned Drinkers Register or similar court order.

In 2021 three convictions were made for breaching the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act, in an offence that carries a maximum $17,600 fine.

The data does not include supply to minors or the supply of grog into dry communities.

Shadow Alcohol Minister Gerard Maley said the low number of convictions proved Labor was “not serious about dealing with the issue of secondary supply”.

“Shockingly, for nearly two and a half years, no charges have been laid against individuals supplying alcohol to those listed on the BDR, or subject to alcohol bans through court orders, or under bail or parole conditions.”

“We know that people bypass the BDR by having family members or friends buy alcohol for them,” Mr Maley said.

“Our police need to be properly resourced to enforce secondary supply.

“If elected, the CLP has been crystal clear that we would immediately change the law to give police better powers to deal with problem drunks and public drinking.”

As of August 2023 there were 3127 people on the BDR.