1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: I want to head across right now and talk a 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: little bit more about these changes to trading hour as 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: we know that as we spoke about with the chiefments 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: to the midday trading, our trial for Greater Darwin bottle 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: shops ended on Friday, allowing stores to open at ten 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: am on weekdays, so that kicks off well in around 7 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: twenty three minutes time. And the hospitality industry had feared 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: that the government would make the change permanent, resulting in 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 1: a loss of ten hours per week for staff, but 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: it didn't have as much of an impact as had 11 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: been hoped, instead pushing problems to pubs Now Hospitality NT 12 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: CEO Alex Bruce joins me on the line. Good morning 13 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: to you, Alex. 14 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 15 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: Welcome back, thanks mate, welcome back to you to the 16 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: show for twenty twenty four. Now tell me how did 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: this trial go? From hospitalities perspective. 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: A LO. We're happy that there was a trial and 19 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: that it's come to an end. We saw sales in 20 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: our bottle shops recover very quickly, which was our experience 21 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: when these things happen. That the market does just move 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 2: around to the limited trading hours, so you know, the 23 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,199 Speaker 2: bottle shops sell the same amount of volume, the staff 24 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: get a couple of hours less pay. That's the only 25 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: real tangible impact into our industry. But then we did 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 2: notice two predictable negative actions, so secondary supply increased. Talking 27 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: to some of the guards that do some of the 28 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: community public place patrols, they were finding refrigerated cold alcohol 29 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: at eight o'clock, nine o'clock in the morning, so very 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: very much not from our closed bottle shops, showing that 31 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: they did see a spike in secondary supply. You know, 32 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: the long though that you left the legitimate sales closed 33 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 2: for the day, the more it's just stimulates the black market. 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: And the other thing we saw was that there was 35 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: in not all of our venues, but in some of 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 2: them in the suburbs and in the event in the city, 37 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: an influx of people wanting to come on premise ten 38 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: o'clock to midday, and some altercations and a bit of 39 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:19,239 Speaker 2: extra violence flared up as staff were applying the responsible 40 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: or potentially not even letting some of these people into 41 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: our premises. So it just did push it literally onto 42 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: our pub's front doors. 43 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: So was there there was a bit of a spike 44 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: in anti social behavior. Then for the pubs, yes, there 45 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: was and they did have to put on some extra 46 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: security in some cases. 47 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, in some cases we saw guards on our front 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: door entrances from ten o'clock in the morning, and that 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: going forward, you know, probably can't be the right business 50 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 2: model nor the right look on our main tourist street 51 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: in the city. So we're very appreciative that the trials 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,519 Speaker 2: come to an end. I think we were quite concerned 53 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: when this all happened about the lack of engagement going 54 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: into it, and credit to the Chief Minister and Minister Potter, 55 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: we've had very good engagement since those changes portfolios, so 56 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: you know, we're part of the solution. We do just 57 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 2: want to be around the table and discuss it with everyone. 58 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: Well that was the big thing, wasn't it towards the 59 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: end of last year, was that some of those changes 60 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: that were being announced, hospitality was not involved in those discussions. 61 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: But it sounds as though that is happening now. So 62 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: this legitimate residence clause that's being brought in, it's going 63 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: to see those from outside of the Greater Darwin will 64 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: have to prove that they've got somewhere appropriate to drink. 65 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: Does the industry support this change. 66 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: Look, we do, and we're supportive, especially of the potential 67 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: to use the BDR data better. And I know you 68 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: might get onto that next, but the legitimate residence clause, 69 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: there were supporters of it in the industry when it 70 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: was one of the COVID measures yep, that was going on. It. 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: We're buy very different views for across the industry on 72 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: most topics though, But at the time, and you know, 73 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: everyone keeps going on it really works back then. Well, 74 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: that's also when we had biosecurity zones and a lot 75 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: of remote communities are locked literally locked there and couldn't 76 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: come into our town. So again it's always your full 77 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: multiple leaders that one't once. It's hard to really get 78 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: to the nitty gritty about which one worked or all 79 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: of them, or were they all as ineffective as we 80 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: suspect they are. But we are supportive of it. We 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: think there might be some additional interactions that our ome 82 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: savory just as the community gets used to it. And 83 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: that's where it was pleasing to hear the Chief and 84 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: we had heard it from Minister Potter prior to as well, 85 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: that they're they're ramping up a bit of a visible 86 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: presence in the affected region of both licensing and police. 87 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: So we're very supportive of any help we can get 88 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: in that regard. 89 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 1: And so Alex, does that come into place today or 90 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: when do those bottle shop workers have to start asking, 91 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, people where they're going to be consuming alcohol. 92 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: Look, we're supportive of it. We think there's enough legislative 93 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: power under our Act already to be encouraging the affected 94 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: bottle shops to do it. It hasn't yet made its 95 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: way into regulation. I think that will happen, yeah, next 96 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 2: month potentially, So you know, we are supportive of best 97 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: endeavors and trying to try to turn it on from 98 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: today going forward. Some outlets were already doing it. Some 99 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: of the liquor acords had as accord measures as well. 100 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: So yeah, right, I think they're covered to do it. 101 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 2: We encourage them to do it, and we know that 102 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,239 Speaker 2: there's a regulation coming. 103 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: Sound But it sounds like it's a little bit gray 104 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: there because I thought from what the Chief Minister was 105 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: saying that it was sort of starting from today and 106 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: that there'd be additional licensing stuff and that out from today. 107 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: But from what you're saying, you think that they can 108 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: but it's not a legislative you know, like it hasn't 109 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: been put into legislation. 110 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, so it hasn't been put into legislation yet. 111 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 2: But there are other powers under the Act that we 112 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: have to refuse service when we think that you know, 113 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 2: you might be going out to drink and in a 114 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: pre bitted area. So it's just getting our industry to 115 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: be a bit more strict with regard whenever they see 116 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,239 Speaker 2: an idea that they're getting for the purpose of scanning 117 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 2: on the BDR from outside of the Darwin region. The 118 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: other thing I did want to say, though, those seven 119 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,799 Speaker 2: day band drink orders do seem to be having an effect. 120 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 2: You know when this time of year we always see 121 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 2: a bit of a spike in people coming from communities 122 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: into town before they get cut off. If the police 123 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 2: can interact with them, and if they're inappropriately public drinking, 124 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: then be put on the BDR for seven days or 125 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: seven days and then another seven days. You know, it 126 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: does really, we think, disincentivize the reason to come in 127 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 2: here and play out. 128 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: Well, that is good to hear, and you know, I 129 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: think what everybody wants is for just that you know, 130 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: that bad behavior that we've seen when it comes to 131 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: public drinking to really be minimized. You know, it's been 132 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 1: something that we really grappled with, I think for twenty 133 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: twenty three and if we can see some change in 134 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: this space, we all hope that it means that will 135 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: see some change really when it comes to those crime 136 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: stats as well. But I do want to ask in 137 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: terms of you know, the having to prove where you're 138 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: going to drink, are you concerned that it could you 139 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: know that it could put staff who have to make 140 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: those judgment calls to either proceed with a sale or 141 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: refuse a sale. Are you concerned about the situation that 142 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: it may put them in and that it could become dangerous. 143 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: Look, potentially, we do have those nasty incidences and altercations 144 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: already when we're refusing service under RSA because the person 145 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: might be intoxicated, or where we're trying to refuse service 146 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: because we suspect that there might be a secondary supply 147 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: event or drinking in a prohibited area. So it adds 148 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: to that. But that's why we are supportive that we think, 149 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: you know, if this becomes more universal in the region, 150 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: the community, all members of the community that interact with 151 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: our bottle shops will just get used to it. Just 152 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: this initial period where the additional support that's being a 153 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 2: profit is welcome. 154 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: Now in terms of, you know, of some of what 155 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: we saw over the Christmas break as well with some 156 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: of the anti social issues that we had seen, it 157 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: had been raised with me that there'd been a bit 158 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: of a directive from licensing due to some of the 159 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: issues that we've seen in whatever. For example, that you 160 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: know that bottle shops are being told if there was 161 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 1: people coming in from that area wanting to purchase alcohol, 162 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: that they were able to make a discretionary sort of 163 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: decision as to whether or not to you know, to 164 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: sell them that alcohol. Was that the case? 165 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, The director of lick A Licensing issued something 166 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: before Christmas in that regard, and issued one again about 167 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 2: ten days ago, right when they were doing the weather 168 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 2: respite and standing up the Baton Road facility so affected 169 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 2: nearby bottle shops just we'll be reminded of their obligations 170 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: and power that they may refuse service. Look at it 171 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: at then all of this stuff. Honestly, Katie, we feel 172 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: like we are heavily regulated. We stand our regulations up 173 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: against anywhere else in the country. We don't think going 174 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 2: further down this conversations going to particularly bear any more fruit. 175 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: We do have to get to a point, and I 176 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: appreciate that I'm not an expert and I'm going to 177 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: stay in my lane. But unless you start changing the 178 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: behavior of some of these individuals, we're just part of 179 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 2: the band aid solutions that get flapped on. 180 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, I know that that's been a concern 181 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: sort of from you guys for a while now, and 182 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: it's Look, it's going to be interesting to see how 183 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: these different measures do sort of play out and whether 184 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: they make a big difference in terms of the review 185 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: of the BDS. What are you hoping comes from that? 186 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: Are we being supportive that you use the BDR better 187 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: or or get rid of it? Yeah, I'll say, got 188 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: on your show for a few years now, and there's 189 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 2: different ways to cook cut the data flows, whether it 190 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 2: needs legs change or tech changes or leave that to 191 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 2: the government. But you know the idea that one ID 192 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: could go through ten different bottle shops in our day 193 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 2: now they could be independently owned from each other. So 194 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 2: as an industry, we don't know where else someone else 195 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,839 Speaker 2: may have purchased that day. But at the moment we've 196 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: got to perverse outcome. We think where the government does know, 197 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: like the system is being tinged ten times with that ID, 198 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 2: yet it's silly enough not to record it or just 199 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 2: have an automatic red flag referral to police or whoever's 200 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: the right agency to choose whether they wanted to follow 201 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,199 Speaker 2: it up or not. And yep, if you're the bonifide 202 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 2: tour operator or a big party or whatever, the other 203 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 2: legitimate reason is, you can earn the flag off. It's 204 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 2: a nice color blind, non discriminatory way to target. What 205 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 2: we've seen is over the last seven and a half years, 206 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 2: just these universal rules put on all of us. We 207 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 2: must prefer things that go to the individual targeted bad behavior, 208 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 2: especially in the secondary supply area. And so it is 209 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 2: pleasing to hear the Chief and again Minister Porter both 210 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 2: saying that, you know, they probably a bit of a concession. 211 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 2: We've done enough with the universal tarisol with the same brush. 212 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 2: It's time to go do the hard work and the 213 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: heavy lifting and go out and target the bad behavior. 214 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: Well, let's hope that we see some change this year. Hey, 215 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, we've spoken so often about these issues 216 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: and Yeah, I'm really hoping that twenty twenty four is 217 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: the year that we finally start to see some of 218 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: this behavior minimized and the territory prosper. Got you, Alex Bruce. 219 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 1: Always good to catch up with you, mate. Thanks so 220 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: much for your time this morning. K Katie all THEIBOT 221 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:00,079 Speaker 1: thank you.