Grog crackdown urged

THE Territory’s Police Association boss says the NT Government must buy back liquor licences, increase penalties for licensed outlets and people that break the law selling grog and give more resources to the enforcement arm of licensing.

The association is the peak body that represents Territory police and president Paul McCue pulls no punches in an opinion piece in today’s Sunday Territorian, calling on the Chief Minister and Police Minister Michael Gunner to take “tough and decisive action” to curb alcohol-related harm.

“It’s time for the Territory Government to heighten regulation of the access to alcohol and its consumption and it’s also time for the community to be the winner over politics and profits,” Mr McCue said.

“By his own admission, the Chief Minister says that alcohol-related harm contin- ues to be the biggest social challenge in the Territory.

“There must be greater focus on the alcohol industry itself, the retail outlets and the wholesalers who profit from the high consumption and resultant harm the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces for and foot the bill.”

The Chief Minister acknowledged Mr McCue’s concerns and said the density of liquor licences and the size of liquor outlets was a key issue contained in his Government’s review into NT Alcohol Policies and Legislation.

“I hear what the Police Association is saying, I’m supportive and I will be having a good hard look at the recommendations that come from our alcohol review,” Mr Gunner said.

Justice Trevor Riley has agreed to lead the review with recommendations expected in September.

Mr McCue said the Govern- ment’s own statistics reference one takeaway liquor outlet for every 353 adults in the Territory.

“The question must be asked do we need that many licenced takeaways?” Mr McCue said.

“A reduction of outlets, which could be facilitated via a licence buy back scheme, should be discussed, as should the fees charged to operate a takeaway licence.”

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