The group of organisations opposed to the application for Dan Murphy’s to open in Darwin, including FARE, has vowed to continue its fight.
The NT Government moved last week to amend its liquor laws to assist Dan Murphy’s in its quest to open its first Darwin outlet.
Endeavour Group was planning to transfer the liquor licence from a former BWS outlet to a planned Dan Murphy’s store at a new shopping complex near Darwin Airport.
However, the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled in December that it was against NT liquor laws to transfer licences from existing outlets to ones that haven’t been built yet.
The Legislative Assembly presented the Liquor Amendment Bill last week, with Attorney-General Natasha Fyles saying the Government would allow businesses to substitute their liquor licence to a premises that has not yet been built, retrospective to February 27, 2018.
The bill has been referred to the Legislation Scrutiny Committee for inquiry and report by March 24, 2020.
FARE Director of Policy Trish Hepworth said objectors will be looking at the details of the changes to the NT Liquor Act 2019 through the committee process.
“The most important thing is that we continue to give a voice to community groups who don’t want to see a spike in alcohol harm,” Hepworth said.
“The NT Government continues to be a world leader in its approach to reducing alcohol harms, introducing key reforms, including the independent liquor commission, moratorium on new licences, banned drinker register, and minimum unit price.”
“We’ve seen positive reduction to emergency department presentations and alcohol-related assaults since the introduction of the alcohol reforms, so the last thing we want to see now are actions that could reverse those positive trends,” added NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale.
Endeavour Group’s general manager of corporate services Shane Tremble told Inside FMCG: “On the face of it the legislation tabled [on Thursday] would appear to clearly address the issues around the proposed substitution of the licence that led to the NTCAT refusal decision in December.
“It also fulfills the Government’s commitment to clarify the original intent of the legislation.”
Endeavour Group’s lawyers are still reviewing the proposed legislation.
“If the Bill is passed in its current form it will mean that we will return to NTCAT for another hearing,” Tremble said.
“This new proceeding will determine whether we can bring the Dan Murphy’s brand to Darwin.”
Woolworths has been involved in a four-year battle to open its first Northern Territory Dan Murphy’s.
