Darwin liquor retailers and workers are reeling after being hit with unexpected trading restrictions in the lead up to Christmas.

The NT Government made the surprise announcement this week that it is pushing back opening hours to midday on weekdays – two hours later than present – from December 11. The restrictions are part of a six-to-eight week trial initiated at the request of Northern Territory Police.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy revealed he wants bottle shop opening hours moved even later to 2pm, but said that was a decision for the government.

Changes implemented through the Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment Bill 2023, Police Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 and the Firearms and Weapons Control Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 were rushed through Parliament on November 30 to address a surge in violent crime in the Northern Territory.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles: “We have passed another tranche of alcohol reform which will assist in curbing alcohol related harm. We have also passed legislation which will keep our bottle shop workers safer.

“People have the right to have a drink in safe and legal ways, but they don’t have the right to cause problems for other Territorians because of their problem drinking.

“By strengthening police powers we will be to help problem drinkers break the cycle, crime and disadvantage, and provides better protection for domestic and family violence victims, particularly women and children.”

Fury over lack of consultation

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce (above) said he was disappointed by the lack of consultation over the trading restrictions.

“The Chief Minister attended an industry event last week and said she would not make changes without consulting industry,” he said.

“Today’s announcement makes a mockery of that.”

The union representing bottle shop workers has joined Hospitality NT in condemning the lack of consultation on trading restrictions, describing it as a “kick in guts” for already low-paid workers.

NT director of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association Shlok Sharma told NT News: “Losing up to 12 hours of work will mean that retail workers will be worse off in the lead-up to Christmas.”

Broken promise revealed

NT News also revealed that the NT Government had broken a written promise to Hospitality NT that there would be no changes to trading rules.

In December 2022, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles wrote a letter Hospitality NT’s chief executive thanking him for its assistance in managing COVID-19.

“Off the back of Covid and the immense hard work invested across the industry, I would like to reassure you that government has no intentions on altering your current business operating environments during this term of government,” she wrote.

Fyles acknowledged to NT News that she’d broken her word.

“I agree we could’ve been better with our communication with Hospitality NT,” she said. “The Police Commissioner approached us and said he needed this trial to keep Territorians safe.”

Expansion of Banned Drinker Register

The changes also give police more powers to place people on the Banned Drinker Register (BDR), by providing them with a Banned Drinker Order (BDO) through enhanced pathways.

The passed amendments introduce a new seven day ban for a Police BDO as an immediate consequence for antisocial behaviour.

The Firearms and Weapons Control Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 will allow security guards working at take away liquor outlets to be equipped with capiscum (OC) spray.

Police Minister Brent Potter said arming bottle shop security guards with capsicum spray would “provide additional protection to themselves, retail workers and the community when confronted with dangerous situations”.

There have been numerous distressing incidents of violence against bottle shop workers, including a 20-year-old worker being stabbed to death at a Darwin bottle shop in March after refusing service to a customer just as the shop was about to close. 

St John Ambulance confirmed they attended the stabbing at the BWS drive-through bottle shop at The Airport Tavern about 9pm on Sunday night. Despite the best efforts of paramedics they were unable to save the man’s life.