NT Liquor Commission chairman Richard Coates retires after raising concerns over department ‘tensions’

The man in charge of reviewing alcohol licences in the Territory has stepped down from the top role following a warning the Commission’s independence was under threat.

After leading the Liquor Commission for years, Richard Coates has retired as the chairman of the independent alcohol oversight body.

The head of the Territory’s Liquor Commission has stepped down after submitting a scathing report into threats to the alcohol ombudsman’s independence.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles officially announced on Thursday that after leading the Liquor Commission for years, Richard Coates had retired as the chairman of the independent alcohol oversight body.

“Mr Coates chose not to renominate for appointment to the Liquor Commission, instead expressing an intention to retire,” a representative of her office said.

As Alcohol Minister, Ms Fyles confirmed the 12-person independent Commission would be downsized to nine, despite the Territory’s booze laws going through a period of turmoil over the past seven months.

Chief Minister and Alcohol Minister Natasha Fyles confirmed the 12-person independent Liquor Commission would be downsized to nine, despite the Territory’s booze laws going through a period of turmoil over the past seven months. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Fyles said Russell Goldflam would take over the chairman role for three years, while Jodi Truman would remain in her role as the deputy chairwoman.

Mr Goldflam has served as a Liquor Commission member for five years, while also serving as the Principal Legal Officer at NT Legal Aid Commission in Alice Springs.

Ms Fyles also announced Denys Stedman and Rachael Shanahan would be joining the Liquor Commission as new members.

Mr Stedman is the Territory’s first Buy Local Industry Advocate and was part of the four-person panel in the 2017 Riley Review, which proposed 220 recommendations to reform alcohol policies in the Territory.

Ms Shanahan is the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory director and previously the StudyNT director, a division of the Department of Trade encouraging international students through partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sector.

Russell Goldflam will take over the Liquor Commission chair role for three years, while Jodi Truman will remain in her role as the deputy chair. Picture: JEFF TAN

But four Commission members have ended their terms with the liquor oversight body, including Rob Parker, Sandra Cannon, Amy Corcoran, and Christine Hart.

Dr Parker is the President of Australian Medical Association NT, Ms Cannon brought her experience living in remote communities and working across senior council roles.

Ms Corcoran was a commercial lawyer and Australian Hotels Association NT chief executive, while Ms Hart was a long-term Pine Creek resident with 47 years’ experience in the public service.

The overhaul of the Commission comes months after a Mr Coates flagged an “inherent tension” between the oversight body and its new Department.

Richard Coates said the shuffling of the Commission from the Justice Department to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade threatened to undermine its core statutory role.

In the latest annual report, Mr Coates said the shuffling of the Commission from the Justice Department to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade threatened to undermine its core statutory role.

“There is an inherent tension between the goal of promoting the economic development of the liquor industry and the responsibilities of the Commission under the Act,” Mr Coates said.

“Those tensions will need to be carefully and sensitively managed if the Commission is to remain within DITT.”

Mr Coates said the purpose of the Commission was first and foremost to minimise alcohol-related harms, even to the potential detriment of business interests.

“Some proposals from businesses associated with the Territory’s liquor industry, which might be regarded by DITT as beneficial for the overall development of business within the Territory, will not always be judged by the Commission as ‘in the public interest’,” he said.

In 2020 Mr Coates and other board members threatened to resign over the Territory government’s decision to fast-track the Dan Murphy’s development — which was later nixed following the Gilbert Review.

Ms Fyles said the Commission remained the primary decision-maker in regards to liquor licence applications and in determining complaints, and it maintained its independence despite the concerns of the former chair.

“Liquor Commission is an independent statutory body – it is not directed by any Department or Minister,” a spokeswoman for her office said.

“The NT government is grateful for his years of service to the Commission and to the Territory more broadly, and we wish him all the best.”

The changes comes during a period of chaos for alcohol policies, with a review into the Liquor Act, and more than 300 remote communities flip-flopping in-and-out of alcohol restrictions over the past seven months.

Mr Coates said in 2021-22 there was a “welcome increase” in the number of applications for licensed social clubs in remote Aboriginal communities.

“Licensed social clubs are not necessarily the answer for all Aboriginal communities, however the Commission is committed to working with those remote Aboriginal organisations which are trying to develop their own strategies to promote the responsible consumption of liquor within their homelands,” he wrote.

The next four years will also see the Liquor Licensing director race to assess and approve alcohol management plans before the latest liquor ban legislation ends in February 2027. 

Before a community can opt-out of alcohol bans, 60 per cent of residents must vote in favour of an alcohol management plan.