1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now is the opposition 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: spokesperson for Business and various other portfolios, Marie Claire booth 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: Be good morning. 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 2: To you, Good morning, Katie, and to your listeners. 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, Mary Claire, 6 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: we have obviously learned this morning that the Northern Territory 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: government's announced new appointments to the Liquor Commission. The Liquor 8 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Commission is one component of sweeping alcohol changes which have 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: taken place since twenty eighteen, is what they say. And 10 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: Richard Coates, the Liquor Commissioner, retiring from that role as 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: the chair. What's the opposition's take on this? 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, that is interesting news from the Liquor Commission 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: there to say that he's going to retire. 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: Katie. 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: What we do know is that this government's alcohol policies 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: are in chaos and they really are all over the 17 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: shop on alcohol policy. I mean, you only have to 18 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: look at what's going on our springs and the comings 19 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: and going there. I think the comments that the Liquor 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: Commission made today about finding the corner stores like speaks 21 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: to that government's priorities, you know, instead of going after 22 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 2: problem drunks they're actually going after the mum and dad 23 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: operators of corner stores, and like these coind of stores 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: are crucial in our community. Like you go to them 25 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: because you need something quick, like it's a milk or bread, 26 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: and if you want to pick up a bottle of wine, 27 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 2: you should be able to do that. There's a cap 28 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 2: on there which is arbitrary of twenty five percent. What 29 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,839 Speaker 2: that means is they can't sell any alcohol above twenty 30 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: five percent of their total income. So what that does 31 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,199 Speaker 2: means that finds it really hard to operate a business, 32 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: especially in our regions. You know, like Matteranka store for example, 33 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: is one of these ones that look like they might 34 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 2: have to close because they can't operate under this environment. 35 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: And the problem with this is that there's no evidence showing 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: that this twenty five percent cap has actually improved alcohol 37 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: related harm statistics. 38 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 1: And so this was obviously an announcement that the Northern 39 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: Territory government or it was a decision that was made 40 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: by the Northern Territory government. And so now what it's 41 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: looking as though if if there are liquor stores that 42 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: don't adhere to those regulations, that they are going to 43 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: be fined. 44 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, that's what they're saying, and I wonder if 45 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 2: that's part of the reason that the Liquor Commissioners is 46 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: moving away from this role. I mean, there was talk 47 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: of the fact that, you know, there's a tension between 48 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: the Department of Business and the lquer Commission. I mean, 49 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: liquors should list, liquor licensing, should have enforcement. They shouldn't 50 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: be you know, running businesses as such. And we know 51 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: that these small stores, you know, they don't stuck up 52 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: without alcohol, and you know, there's such an important role 53 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 2: to play in. And if Fatasha Philes put more resources 54 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: into the Liquor Commission for enforcement and actually cracking down 55 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 2: on operators that were doing the wrong thing, then they 56 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: wouldn't have to go after every single small supermarket who 57 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: are genuinely trying to do the right thing. 58 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: Well, we are going to catch up with the outgoing 59 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: Liquor Commissioner at about ten forty five this morning. We'll 60 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: see what we can find out. But Marie Claire, by 61 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: the sounds of things, I mean, would I would, I 62 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: guess expect the opposition to say that things are in 63 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: a state of chaos when it comes to some of 64 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: these alcohol restrictions. And different concerns that we've got around 65 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: the place at this point, but you really do feel 66 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: that it's a state. 67 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: Of chaos absolutely. I mean, the statistics speak for themselves, 68 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 2: but then when you add the actual feeling, you know, 69 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 2: in our communities, in our town centers, our shopping centers, 70 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: on our buses, like it's alcohol is a huge problem. 71 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: And instead of dealing with the root causes of this 72 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 2: and dealing with the problem drunks, what we have is 73 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: a government who is throwing resources at trying to punish 74 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: those that aren't doing the wrong thing. 75 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: Well, I'll be interested to see exactly what he's got 76 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: to say today, what thetgoing Liquor Commissioner has to say now, 77 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: Marie Claire, I'm not sure if you've seen, and obviously 78 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: I want to be quite careful in terms of what 79 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: we say here around the legalities of this story. But 80 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: there is quite an explosive story in the Northern Territory 81 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: and the Anti Independent today in relation to NT politics. 82 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: Now it is in relation to Labour's candidate for the 83 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: upcoming by election. We have sort of response from both 84 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister's office and also the Labor Party. But 85 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: have you had a look at that article and what 86 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: do you make of it, Katie. 87 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: It is certainly a concerning story and if this is true, 88 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: it does raise some very serious integrity questions for the 89 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: Chief Minister. I mean, these are questions that should be 90 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: put to the Chief Minister regarding her candidate and she 91 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: should answer them. Well. 92 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: We have certainly put some questions to the Chief Minister's office. 93 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: We are yet to get a response from them. And 94 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: I know that it probably sounds like we're talking in 95 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: coded words today for our listeners in relation to this story. 96 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: But I do just want to be careful about what 97 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: we say and we will certainly see if we can 98 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: get a response from the Northern Territory Chief Minister on 99 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: that one. Murray Claire. The other big story of the 100 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,799 Speaker 1: last couple of days is the fact that the Northern 101 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: Territory Police Association is calling for an additional three hundred police. 102 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,159 Speaker 1: It follows comments made by the Deputy Commissioner Murray small 103 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: Page in the Coronial which is currently underway. I mean, 104 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: three hundred extra police. Where is the government going to 105 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: find the money for that? 106 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: I know, Okatie. And on the same day that we 107 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: find out that they need three out of more police 108 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: officers and they are looking for five hundred million more 109 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: worth of funding. We hear of another budget blowout, I 110 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: mean another project Tiger Brennan Drive that's one hundred million 111 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: dollars over and they really just have only started. And 112 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: then we had Paul Kirby, the Minister for Business when 113 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: after about concessions the Veterans said that everything is under 114 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: threat on a daily basis in the Northern Territory with 115 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: our budget. I mean they were his words. I mean 116 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: everything is under threat. I mean this government is literally 117 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: paying a million dollars a day to service a nine 118 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: billion dollar debt and our police are in absolute crisis. 119 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 2: They are absolutely broken. The COLP has tried five times 120 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: for an inquiry into our police force, only to be 121 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: voted down during Parliament. We need an immediate inquiry into 122 00:05:58,440 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: the police force because what we need to do is 123 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: determined exactly what's going on and what is needed to 124 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 2: support them. That also means, Katie, stronger laws. I mean, 125 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 2: like our ministry is centencing laws for those who as 126 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: solved police. I mean we need all these laws in 127 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: place and without them it'll continue to be in crisis. 128 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: Well, Marie Claire Boosey, we are going to have to 129 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: leave it there. We always appreciate your time. I think 130 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: we're saying you tomorrow for the week that was as well. 131 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: Is that wrong? 132 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: I look forward to it. 133 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: We see you then, Thank you.