Alcohol policy critic silenced by council
Kaikohe man Shaun Reilly has taken deep offence at the Far North District Council’s refusal to allow him to speak when it considers its local alcohol policy.
The proposed policy, to reduce offlicence trading hours from 7am-11pm to 9am-10pm, was referred back to the council after Mr Reilly appealed to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority and lost. Retailers argued that the proposed hours were unreasonable, with no evidence that shorter hours would reduce alcohol-related harm, while Mr Reilly wants them further reduced, to 10am7pm.
He had requested the opportunity to address the council when it further discussed the policy, but council lawyer George Swanepoel said he would not be welcome.
Mr Swanepoel said he believed Mr Reilly could fairly be regarded as requesting a deputation, in which case standing orders gave the chairman — Mayor — the discretion to decline to hear a deputation on a number of relevant grounds, notably that Mr Reilly had previously spoken on the same issue, and that the matter was subject to legal proceedings. The appeals to ARLA by Progressive and Foodstuffs is not yet resolved.
“However, in this instance you have had an opportunity to state your case directly to ARLA, which was dismissed. Also, if we are to give you the opportunity to address council we should allow all submitters to do so,” he wrote.
“While the chairperson does have a discretion, it is cleanest and safest in terms of legal risk to allow no person or entity to address the council meeting, rather than risk having one person/entity address the meeting and an opposing entity then feel it lacked the opportunity to do so.
“The arguments from all sides in relation to off-licence hours are now well known, and have been tested before the Authority.
“It is for council to deliberate on the various options that now arise as a result of the ARLA decisions, without outside influence.”
Mr Reilly said he had no intention of accepting that decision, and would be appealing to the Ombudsman.