Are Northern Territory venues facing more early lockouts, ID scanners?

More 3am lockouts for venues trading until 4am and ID scanners could be introduced by the Northern Territory Government within the next year.

These were two of 220 recommendations made by former Chief Justice Trevor Riley’s alcohol policy review, which were made public late last week.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said it was “likely” that all but one would be considered. The exception was a ban on Sunday trading.

Other suggestions that would affect music venues in the Territory covered annual fees for “risk” venues, and escalating fees for venues that opened later, as well as a review if the Darwin CBD precinct be extended to the waterfront.

The Riley Review also put the onus on liquor authorities to ensure that late night precincts remain entertainment precincts and not alcoholic precincts, and that new licenses should be granted to a “wide range of entertainment options” that did not centre around booze drinking.

Drinks with alcohol content over 5% would be banned from sale in in pubs and clubs after 11pm, and police would get the power to suspend liquor licences for up to 48 hours.

There would be a limit on advertising of cheap alcohol, and covert compliance audits for licensed venues.

NT’s Music Industry Council is meeting tomorrow and will work through a formal response to this report.

But meanwhile Mark Smith, Executive Director of MusicNT told The Music Network, “Lock-out laws have existed in the Territory for a number years but the recommendation within the recent report to increase these are worrying.

“There is strong evidence that this measure impacts the night time economy and has significant economic impact on live music venues.

“Seeking to address alcohol related incidents in this way only relocates the issue rather than reduce it.

“MusicNT strongly opposes any further lock out laws but applauds the reports focus on ensuring that precincts have a renewed focus on entertainment as we have argued strongly that increased live music creates a positive environment that can reduce alcohol related violence.”

Australian Hotels Association NT CEO Des Crowe agreed with the recommendations but not with the move to reintroduce licensing fees.

“Any proposal that will increase regulatory costs, we would be very concerned about, particularly in the current NT economy,” he told the NT News.

The idea of an extension of the 3am lockout for the Territory was first broached by the Royal Australasian College Of Surgeons in March 2016 as “earlier closing times consistently reduce assaults and emergency department attendances.”

The NT branch of the Australian Medical Association repeated the call a few months ago.

A number of Darwin venue operators were contacted over the weekend by TMN to offer their views on the recommendations for this story but had not responded by deadline.