The controversial reduction in bottle shop trading hours in Darwin, Palmerston and parts of the rural area began today, the Fyles Government has said, but licensees in one town were only informed on Friday they would be subject to the new rules.
Opening hours for affected bottle shops have changed from 10am to noon Monday to Friday, but weekend and public holiday opening hours remain the same. The change is a trial until January 25, when it will then be reviewed, Chief Minister and Alcohol Policy Minister Natasha Fyles has said.
The affected area ends before Humpty Doo, so it, Noonamah, Berry Springs, and the Darwin River Tavern are not included.
However Hospitality NT chief executive officer Alex Bruce said the licensees of the two bottle shops in Howard Springs only found out on Friday they were part of the trial.
Ms Fyles made the announcement that the changes would begin on Monday in a press release on Sunday.
“We have great liquor retailers and bottle shop workers who work well with us as we try to curb alcohol-related harm. Thank you for working with us as we embark on this new policy setting,” Ms Fyles said.
The Chief Minister announced new alcohol laws on Monday November 27, and moved to pass them in Parliament on the Tuesday morning on urgency.
Apart from the bottle shop trading restriction, the changes also give police more powers, including to ask for identification of public drinkers acting disorderly, which the government said would lead to more people put on the banned drinkers register and an immediate seven-day banned drinker order (BDO) applied.
The changes also allow for bottle shop security guards to be armed with capsicum spray.
The bottle shop operating hours change was met with surprise by Hospitality NT, which said in a statement that Ms Fyles had reneged on a pledge not to change operating hours without first consulting.
“This year started with chaos in Alice and a tragic death in our industry and ends with this government blaming everyone other than themselves,” Mr Bruce said at the time.
Looks like some outlets will get busy. Not far from palmerston to Noonamah. Just imagine all the early starters on the road.
NT Government = Arrogance Personified….😠
Flyes and her merry band of clowns haven’t got a bloody clue, would make more sense to have them close 2 hrs earlier.
Why differentiate, make them the same as Alice as the problems are the same. Not too many brains in the establishment or are they being led along by the liquor industry like a bull with a ring in the nose. The later probably has a bit to do with decisions made.