The inquiry, being held in Katherine, was told there had been a “forced migration” of people to Darwin where they could legally obtain grog.

“And there had been a forced migration of people out of Katherine to cause problems in other areas like Mataranka,” Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson told the inquiry.

Stuart Hotel’s Athol Schmidt said the NT needed uniform liquor laws and the same hotel opening hours right across the Territory.

The NT Government’s review into alcohol laws held its hearing today before about 30 people at the Godinymayin culture centre today.

Inquiry panel chair Trevor Riley said problems with the NT’s alcohol laws were not going to be fixed overnight.

He said the panel had already received many submissions saying police should stay in control of alcohol sales through the POSI policy.

Mr Riley said “compelling evidence” had already been presented to the inquiry that police in the bottle shop policy had worked.

The NT Government rolls out its Banned Drinkers Register in Katherine on September 1 when it hands back responsibility on the POSI policy to police command.

Former chief justice Riley said many people wanted police out of bottle shops and back on the beat but also wanted people with uniforms to remain in the bottle shops.

”They want some sort of disciplined force, wearing a uniform and with authority, much like housing and fishing inspectors, to stay but free up police,” Mr Riley said.

He said many people were concerned the BDR, without the police, would not have the same impact.

“Submissions have been made that POSI’s should stay until the BDR is proven.”

Ms Nelson said it was the government’s intention to have a transition period between the BDR’s introduction and removal of the POSI.

”It is an operational decision of police where they place them,” she said.

Ms Nelson said she had never been a supporter of the POSI policy.

“It has an effect on surrounding communities like Mataranka,” she said, indicating that problem drinkers were simply forced to live in other areas.

“I have seen people in Darwin who I know are from Katherine who go there for the drinking,” she said.

She agreed hotel opening hours needed to be standardised.

The inquiry was told mail order companies are still sending food parcels containing alcohol into “dry” communities.

Some public housing areas in Katherine turn into “war zones” on weekends even with signs on their fences declaring them to be alcohol free.

“Some public units have a serious problem with alcohol,” the inquiry was told.

Mr Schmidt said some sentences handed down by the court on drinking-related offences were too lenient.

The inquiry will hear evidence in Mataranka this afternoon and continue meeting communities around the NT before presenting a final report to government.