Fines for Drinking Alcohol in Public or in a Vehicle if it Causes a Nuisance
Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024
Topics
alcohol consumption alcohol harm reduction alcohol licensing criminal penalties infringement notices public alcohol consumption public nuisance public order public safety
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 the Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024. Bill read a first time.”
Selena Uibo ALP
“Madam Speaker, I move that the debate be adjourned. Motion agreed to; debate adjourned.”
“Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition lectures this parliament about the work Labor did to strengthen the laws and address problems when it is worse than it has ever been before. The Trevor Riley report was done in 2019; it is 2024, and things are worse. Labor had eight years to fix the problems and failed miserably.”
Laurie Zio CLP
“Madam Speaker, I strongly support the proposed amendments to the Liquor Act, Liquor Regulations 2019, Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 and the Alcohol Harm Reduction Regulations. These changes represent a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to address alcohol-related issues in the Northern Territory. Whilst campaigning I spoke to many members of the Fannie Bay constituency.”
“Madam Speaker, I begin by talking about an issue I have raised before because it is important for what we discuss today. I previously talked about the Coroner’s report into the death of Kumanjayi Langdon. He was a Warlpiri man and an elder, educator and artist. Sadly, he died in custody at the age of 59. Kumanjayi Langdon was reported to have been drinking in a public place.”
Clinton Howe CLP
“Madam Speaker, this Bill is particularly important to my electorate of Drysdale. It does not matter where you would go in Drysdale today, there would be public drinking. In Gunn you see drunks out the front of the childcare centre. I am called almost daily by people at the childcare centre, asking for help with the drunks out the front.”
“Madam Speaker, I support the Bill. The Member for Drysdale has pinched my script because the same issues that he has raised in his electorate are rampant in my electorate of Karama, but it is worth restating and being more specific. I will relay some of the experiences we have. Like the Member for Drysdale’s electorate, our parks have become unusable for the purposes for which they are designed.”
Matthew Kerle CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support this Bill. It should have been passed years ago. In fact, the former Labor government in the first place should never have removed police powers to keep our community safe from the scourge of nuisance drinking. Following on from the Members for Drysdale and Karama, I will talk about the impact that public drinking has on my electorate.”
Tanzil Rahman CLP
“Madam Speaker, nuisance drinking is a serious issue in the Territory and everyone has testified to its incidence and the extent to which it is a problem. My colleagues from Fannie Bay, Drysdale, Karama and Blain have provided ample, sad testimony to the state of our polity. It is impossible to ignore those stories.”
Joshua Burgoyne CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024. 283 --- Debates and Questions Tuesday 22 October 2024 Meeting No 4 For too long people across the Northern Territory have been negatively impacted by the former Labor government’s ideology-driven policy direction when it comes to alcohol. Nowhere has this been seen more clearly than in my home town of Alice Springs.”
Khoda Patel CLP
“Madam Speaker, I strongly support the Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024 and emphasise its potential to address a pressing issue in our community--the rise of crime and antisocial behaviour in Casuarina, particularly around Casuarina Square.”
Lia Finocchiaro CLP
“Madam Speaker, I am proud to contribute to this debate as part of my team who have a clear plan to reduce crime for the Northern Territory. Today’s legislation targets nuisance public drinking by giving police better powers to deal with nuisance public drinking and problem drunks.”
Gerard Maley CLP
“Madam Speaker, I pick up on what the Chief Minister said about getting the balance right, backing police and the community and allowing Territorians to enjoy their lifestyle no matter where they live, in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine or wherever they want to be. The Territory is about lifestyle, being safe and the economy.”
Dheran Young ALP
“Madam Speaker, the CLP’s Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024 proposes to further regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol and is apparently aimed at improving public safety and reducing harm. However, we must assess the implications of such legislation, particularly the notion that criminalising individuals for alcohol-related issues will lead to a safer community.”
Oly Carlson CLP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I support these amendments to the Liquor Act because we need our police to have better powers to deal with public drinking, which can often lead to crime.”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge all members’ contributions to this Bill. I continue to have concerns about the proposed legislation and the impacts it will have on members of our community. 292 --- Debates and Questions Tuesday 22 October 2024 Meeting No 4 It is important to remind all members of this House that we are talking about our fellow Territorians, and language matters.”
“Madam Speaker, I support the Liquor Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2024, which amends existing legislation related to alcohol consumption and public order. The primary objective of the Bill is to enhance police powers in addressing alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. The CLP took to the election a suite of changes that it would introduce in the first week of parliament to reduce crime.”