The Finocchiaro CLP Government will extend police-issued Banned Drinker Orders from seven to 28 days, following a review of the Banned Drinkers Register, but has not committed to other recommendations made by its BDR taskforce that would affect bottle shop operators, including increasing penalties for operators who repeatedly fail to comply with the BDR.

Minister for Alcohol Policy Steve Edgington said the government was still considering all of the findings of the recent BDR review, which appears to be only four pages, but would immediately rush through laws to extend the BDOs on urgency in Parliament.

The recommendations the government has not committed to include the use of enforceable undertakings that would punish bottle shops that repeatedly breach their obligations with the BDR; developing an opt-in system for clubs that want to participate in on-premises scanning; and broadening data sharing arrangements between key agencies to “enhance collaboration” and increase training for officials to refer more people to the BDR.

Mr Edgington did not explain why the government was not immediately taking those recommendations on board, which would affect bottle shop operators. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s chief of staff Alex Bruce is the former head of Hospitality NT, which represents small bottle shop and pub owners.

“The Finocchiaro CLP Government will now consider the BDR Review, but we will fast-track one of the review’s recommendations, strengthening Banned Drinker Orders,” Mr Edgington said.

“I will bring to Parliament this week on urgency changes to the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 to give effect to this vital change.”

He also took aim at the previous Labor government, suggesting the “greatest alcohol policy failure in a decade occurred when Labor allowed Stronger Futures legislation to lapse” in 2023.

Ms Finocchiaro pointed to a successful crime crackdown operation in Katherine that led to a 354 per cent increase in BDOs being issued, which correlated with a reduction in crime.

“This [the extension of BDOs] gives police an additional tool to combat alcohol-fuelled violence and crime and further protect our community,” she said.

Police Commissioner Martin Dole said he supported the extended alcohol ban as police prepare for their summer operations.

“Increasing the number of days from seven to 28 will be an important tool as we head into our summer season, which attracts a spike in alcohol-related crime,” he said.

“Public drinking continues to remain our biggest catalyst for overall assaults and domestic violence, which is why our teams are already rolling out targeted intervention before things escalate.”

During the period from November 2 to 9, officers issued over 130 Banned Drinker Orders and disposed of more than 900 litres of alcohol, Mr Dole said.