Longer Duration for Police Banned Drinker Orders
Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment (Banned Drinker Orders) Bill 2025
Introduced by: The Hon Steven Edgington MLA (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Steven Edgington CLP
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment (Banned Drinker Orders) Bill 2025 and table a copy of the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be now read a first time. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 to change the length of police-issued banned drinker orders, known as BDOs, from seven days to 28 days.”
Dheran Young ALP
“Madam Speaker, I move the following amendment, omitting all words after `that’ and inserting the following words, `the Bill be referred to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee for report by 29 January 2026’. It is concerning that this government has moved another piece of legislation on urgency; this is the ninth time.”
Joshua Burgoyne CLP
“Madam Speaker, I thank Minister Edgington for bringing this Bill to the House, especially under urgency, which is what we are debating this morning in regard to the Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment (Banned Drinker Orders) Bill 2025. We have seen what happens across the Northern Territory when we do not act urgently when it comes to alcohol legislation.”
Gerard Maley CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Bill on urgency. This is about the safety of the community and the problem drinkers who drink too much and cause harm to themselves. This will give them an opportunity to have the time to reach out and get support to deal with the alcohol issues 3497 --- Debates and Questions Thursday 27 November 2025 Meeting No 41 that they face.”
Andrew Mackay CLP
“Madam Speaker, in this House over the past few days we have heard a lot about listening to and talking with experts. I like to name our experts instead of having faceless men. I have a quote from Police Commissioner Martin Dole, who has my full backing: Increasing the number of days from seven to 28 will be an important tool as we head into our summer season ...”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Madam Speaker, it has been a big week, and that is precisely the point I will make. You are the government, so you get to set the political agenda for the parliament and the timelines for your reviews. You get to decide when things come back and when they pass.”
Robyn Cahill CLP
“Madam Speaker, this Bill is needed on urgency because any action we can take, any approach that can be put forward, that will give us an opportunity to reduce the harm from alcohol in our community is urgent.”
Clinton Howe CLP
“Madam Speaker, the Member for Daly and I share a belief in good governance. With good governance there is a time for debate to guide us and a time for action to define us. I will not go back to the constituents of Drysdale and say that I played the fiddle while alcohol destroyed our community over the summer period.”
Tanzil Rahman CLP
“Madam Speaker, I will make a couple of points on this matter, given it has been raised. I have already spoken about this process and the circus we go through every time about what needs to be sent to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee, the fact that our system is imperfect, that Labor did not have one and that we have one that does not work quite to its liking.”
Jo Hersey CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support this legislation and will speak about the benefits of the changes to the banned drinker order penalties for the community of Katherine. I commend the Minister for Alcohol Policy and Health minister for bringing this legislation to the parliament. Of all people, he sees the evidence of the harm that happens in our communities.”