1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now. Hospitality NT CEO 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Alex Bruce, Good morning Alexoday. 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 2: Katie, welcome back. Congratulations on the gong. 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: Ye oh, thank you very much. I appreciate it. 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 2: Thanks mate. 6 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: It's good to be back and tell you what Australia 7 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: Day yesterday. How did it all go from your perspective? 8 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 2: Yeah? Really well, you know, no surprise. Territorians took the 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 2: opportunity to make a four day weekend where they could 10 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 2: by taking Monday off, so accommodation in the city and 11 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: our restaurants and bars around the city were quite busy 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: all weekend and through to yesterday. A lot of great events. 13 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 2: Yesterday I spent time down at your Mix one or 14 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: four point nine one yea beach at dow and Trailer 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: Boat Club yesterday it was quite good. Storm rolled through 16 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: and half the crowd disappeared, but luckily it cleared and 17 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: people just kept coming waves the locals throughout the afternoon. 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 2: Waterfront was very busy. They had the Odds Run event 19 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: and then the after run activities down there which really 20 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 2: kicked off a quite a busy day down there. Nooney 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: Cabin and I spoke to Tony this morning. They got 22 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: really good trade being that end location for the ute run. Yeah, 23 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 2: and even down Lichfield Hotel down in Bachelor they kicked 24 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 2: off an event bitrain affected, but even they reported that 25 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 2: they saw new families from Darwin that they hadn't hadn't 26 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: seen before. So that's good. 27 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: It is good to hear. And I'll tell you what 28 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: we know that you know, it's been such a well. 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty was such a tough year. We're all hoping 30 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one is going to be better. And do 31 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: you reckon we've been off to a good start, Alex. 32 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely, I think I think the firing gunment probably 33 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 2: went off for an early Christmas last year and we're 34 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: still running in first place at the moment when you 35 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: look across the country. 36 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that is good to hear. But look, I 37 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,559 Speaker 1: know that there are still some concerns around the territory. 38 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: One of those is around the BDR. There has been 39 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: a lot of discussion over the years about whether the 40 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: BDR would be rolled out into pubs. I understand something 41 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,639 Speaker 1: is on the cards for Tenant Creek at the moment. 42 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: Can you talk us through it? 43 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and look, the Liquor Commissions having a public hearing 44 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: down Intendant Creek next week and we're participating down there 45 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: and we'll go through their due process for all of that. 46 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: But this really has become a bit of a lightning 47 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: rod issue for country pubs, remote roadhouses and way sidings 48 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: right across the territory. You know, we didn't hear about 49 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: this as a policy public policy initiative of the government 50 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 2: prior to the election, four months into a four year term, 51 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 2: and it suddenly is a tugly head. I just need 52 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: to say, this isn't about condoning selling to ban drinkers 53 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: on premise, That's not what it's about. This is a 54 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 2: very bad policy that will hit already. Over Regulated business 55 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: is hard and it affects the public's view of our 56 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: businesses as well. And you know at the moment you 57 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: have to pull out your driver's license for every transaction 58 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: in a bottle shop. Piece you've gone through, you've gone home, 59 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: and you've gotten the bottle of wine for the party, 60 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: you have to go back, you have to do it again. 61 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: Fair enough, this potentially would be every time you go 62 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: up to the bar. Also, what happens when you shout around? 63 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 2: Are you meant to check with all your mates? Whether 64 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: they're on the BDR. Wow, that kind of information. They 65 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: might not want to be too forthcoming. They might just 66 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 2: be you know, having a drive dely or a drive 67 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,239 Speaker 2: said for whatever reason is a bit of a health kick. 68 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: Do they now need to tell all their extended family 69 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: and friends when they are on the BDR. We think 70 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: this has got some really large impacts out on the community. Yes, 71 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: And nineteen nine point nine percent of all BDR scans 72 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: a green screen, you know, legitimate sales. So what the 73 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: hell of ninety nine point nine per cent of it's 74 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: done wrong? To have another bit of red tape and cock? 75 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: So, Alex, what so obviously that public hearing is going 76 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: to be happening in Tenant Creek. I mean, we know 77 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: that Tenant Creek's got some real issues when it comes 78 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: to you know, to people obviously abusing alcohol. But what exactly, so, 79 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: what are you expecting to come out of that hearing? 80 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: I mean, is this do you reckon this is going 81 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: to actually happen? Do you think we are going to 82 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: see a change around country pubs all around Ust where 83 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: you've got to actually sort of you know, show your 84 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: idea every time you buy a drink. 85 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: Look, so Tenant Creek. Unfortunately, like all of the communities 86 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: in the territory, including Dale and Palms, and you know, 87 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: they do have their crime issues, they do have their 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: antisocial issues. We don't shy away from that. We've got 89 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,239 Speaker 2: the toughest rules in the country in ten And Creek 90 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: right now, the bottle shops are only opened three hours 91 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: of a day for six days of the week. There 92 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: is no trade on a Sunday. The licensees in town 93 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 2: that are affected by that are happy to keep those high, 94 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: onerous restrictions as are rather than face ever increasing ones 95 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: just because someone thought it was a good idea. Look, 96 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: it's really challenging TenneT Creek specifically. It impacts the two 97 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: pubs in town, but not the two clubs. Even though 98 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 2: they open at the same time for on premise customers 99 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: at the same time of day. They have a different 100 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: demographic that attends the pubs versus the clubs. And we 101 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: really do get a little bit concerned where you've got 102 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: the same community dealing with the same issues, yet a 103 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 2: venue with a high Indigenous customer base gets additional rules 104 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: and the club up the road with the non Indigenous 105 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: customers in it gets exempted. 106 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: Alex do you think that this is a real possibility 107 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: here that the BDR that we will wind up in 108 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: a situation where you're having to use your license across 109 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: the rest of the Northern Territory as well in. 110 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 2: Pups look in an otherwise quiet time of the year 111 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: when everyone's just enjoying their time with family or watching 112 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: the cricket. This went completely through the regional network. My 113 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: phone rang hot and melted down, Alice Springs, Catherine. They're 114 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,239 Speaker 2: not buying the argument that this will just be contained 115 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 2: to Tenant Creek. If this is coming in in Tenant 116 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 2: very quickly, it will be expanded to the rest of 117 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 2: the regional Northern Territory And by that stage you really 118 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: have to question whether or across the north of the 119 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: barham A line and come to a pub near us 120 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: up here as well. Wow. So look, we are calling 121 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: on Michael Gunner and Natashaphile. This is a policy position. 122 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 2: They need to state do they support BDR in pubs 123 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: in the Berkley and the territory, Yes or no? They 124 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 2: spend a lot of time rewriting the liquoric last term. 125 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 2: It makes it very clear that the BDR is owned 126 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: and controlled by the Minister and the Minister determines who 127 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: is captured by it, and at the moment it's the 128 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: bottle shops. So we don't think it's good enough for 129 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: them to hide behind the Liquor Commission and say there's 130 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: a process. 131 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: Alex, we are going to have to wrap up. But 132 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 1: just very quickly, are you able to tell us if 133 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: this does roll out right across our regional town centers 134 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: and potentially in you know ops in Darwin, what kind 135 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: of impact will this have on our pubs? 136 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: Massive? Either, so if it's at the door, you have 137 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: to have an additional staff cost at all your entrances. 138 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: People that are on the BDR that might not have 139 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: told their family and friends who just wanted to come 140 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: for a meal and a coke will be shamed at 141 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: the door, maybe even denied entry or given a wristband 142 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: and be outed in that setting. Or it's every time 143 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: you go up to the bar you have to pass 144 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: your idea across. It doesn't matter if if your second 145 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: beer or your third. There is no policy developed on 146 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 2: what happens when I go and buy around So three 147 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: of my mates, who's responsible with one of them's on 148 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: the BDR or not? This has massive cost implications, not 149 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: to mention what kind of symbol a we sending to 150 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 2: the rest of the country when we should be telling 151 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: them come here, enjoy a holiday. We want you to 152 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: be good tourists. We're safe if we have this level 153 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: of our Gestapo style rules. 154 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: Alex, just very quickly, there'll be some people listening this 155 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: morning who go, you know what, We've got a real 156 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: issue with alcohol in the territory. Maybe we all just 157 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: need to suck it up. What would you say to them. 158 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: I'd say we have very tough supply style restrictions. Further 159 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 2: tightening them alone will not fix our issues. We have 160 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: to start looking at individual responsibility. We have to start 161 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 2: looking at our harm minimization programs out there and really 162 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: saying whether they're working or not. 163 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: Alex Bruce, Hospitality and TCEEO. I always appreciate your time. 164 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for coming on. 165 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 2: This morning here, Katie Otiber, thank you. 166 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: We're going to take a very short break when we 167 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: come back. Well, we've just got Dave Tollner this morning 168 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: for the big issues with Maddie Hepworth. Damien Hale has 169 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: had to pull out at the last minute. But gee, 170 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: I'm keen to hear from you this morning about what 171 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: Alex Bruce has just said to us. We know that 172 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: there is going to be that public hearing in Tenant 173 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: Creek around the BDR being utilized in pubs in Tenant Creek. 174 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: They're hearing obviously from the public, but what are your thoughts? 175 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: How would you feel about having a BDR in pubs 176 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: across the terror Trey as well.