Robyn Lambley makes bid to ban alcohol in NT parliament house

Independent MLA Robyn Lambley will make a bid to ban booze in parliamentary workplaces in light of snap alcohol restrictions in her hometown Alice Springs.

An outspoken Territory politician will make a bid this week to ban the bevvies in parliament house.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley has introduced a motion to make parliament house an alcohol-free workplace, labelling it an “important symbolic gesture” in light of snap alcohol restrictions in her hometown Alice Springs.

The debate on Wednesday will come just days after Ms Lambley referred Attorney-General Chansey Paech to the corruption watchdog for an alleged conflict of interest surrounding the Territory’s booze ban decisions.

Mr Paech has denied any conflict.

“This is less about the actual motion, but more about … recognising that alcohol is the single most destructive problem in the NT,” Ms Lambley said.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley first introduced her bill to ban alcohol in parliament house in February 2022. Photograph: Che Chorley

“Implementing alcohol restrictions in our parliamentary workplace, similar to the plethora of alcohol restrictions that are in place across 90 per cent of the NT is a very small ask.

“With the ongoing ‘crime crisis’ in Central Australia, fuelled by the NT government ... I am hoping that all members will see sense.

“It is deeply hypocritical that parliament house has no alcohol free zones.”

Snap alcohol restrictions announced on the back of the Prime Minister’s visit to Alice Springs will last at least three months. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Ms Lambley said the Bill would apply to work areas of staff and members of the NT Legislative Assembly, including the whole fifth floor, while public function spaces would not be included in the ban.

It would also not be policed, with members and staff asked to “respect the decision … and respect their fellow Territorians.”

Chief Minister and Alcohol Policy Minister Natasha Fyles said her team was “only focused on creating better lives for Territorians”.

“Parliament is a place of work, listening and taking action.” she said.

“No one on my team or staff is spending time consuming alcohol.

“Parliament House is (also) a venue used for Territorians to share in celebrations of our achievements and milestones.”

Territory parliament returns for its first sittings of the year from Tuesday to Thursday. Picture: Jason Walls

It comes as the Fyles government prepares to pass urgent legislation to reinstate alcohol bans across the Territory’s Aboriginal communities and town camps.

The backflip comes on the back of Central Australia’s new regional controller Dorelle Anderson’s report, ordered by the federal government last month.

Ms Fyles said she expected the legislation to be in place by the end of the week.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro has said she will call for a vote of no confidence in the Fyles government. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro is also set to introduce a motion of no confidence against the Fyles government this week.

In the unlikely event the majority government allows the debate to be held, it would be the third no-confidence motion in the parliament in seven years and Ms Finocchiaro’s first as the CLP leader.

“We have a crisis of lawlessness right across the Territory that is creating a debilitating social impact that this government cannot get a handle on,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Their job is to make the lives of Territorians better not worse, yet we stand here today with a Northern Territory that many of us don’t even recognise.”

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