TERRITORY Labor’s spokeswoman for alcohol policy has used the latest sitting of Parliament to launch a scathing attack on the impact temporary beat locations were having on small business in Katherine.
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Member for Nightcliff Natasha Fyles visited Katherine earlier this month and used an adjournment speech on April 19 to slam the TBL concept, which stations police officers in bottle shops in a bid to stamp out antisocial behaviour.
While Ms Fyles conceded there was less alcohol abuse in Katherine since TBLs were implemented in 2014, she said it was clear problem drinkers had been pushed out of town and that the “unintended consequence” of the Giles government policy had crippled some business owners.
“There is a sign that they are reaching crisis point in this small town,” she told Parliament.
“The government should be well aware of the issue; it has been previously raised in the Katherine Times but has been clearly ignored by the government.”
Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe, Katherine Town Council and the Katherine branch of the Chamber of Commerce NT remain supportive of TBLs but Ms Fyles said she believed it was time to to look at the reintroduction of the banned drinkers’ register in order to save businesses.
“I think that the government need to acknowledge this issue on businesses immediately,” she said.
“Every week that goes by is less meals served [and] less business, which has a flow-on effect in the community.
“It’s the unintended consequence of pushing people away from the community of Katherine.”
Mr Westra van Holthe responded to Ms Fyles’ suggestion by calling it an attempt to “score cheap political points” but admitted TBLs had triggered “multiple influences on Katherine’s local economy”.
