Licensing NT newsletter: April 2022

A reminder the annual risk based licensing (RBL) fees are overdue.

Failure to pay the RBL fees means the immediate suspension of your licence until the fee is paid. If you have not paid your fee, you are trading in breach of your licence.

These fees are retrospective. If you do not wish to retain your liquor licence going forward, you must still pay what is owing.

If you would like to surrender your licence email itt.lrascompliancedwn@nt.gov.au.

As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s timely to remind licensees of grocery stores that as of 1 July 2022, declarations for the 25% cap on takeaway liquor must be verified by an accountant or bookkeeper.

Those declarations must be lodged within 28 days of 1 July 2022. A reminder that penalties for breaching the 25% liquor sales cap or providing misleading declarations could lead to disciplinary action or enforceable undertakings.

On 15 February 2022, the Northern Territory Liquor Commission granted the first new liquor licence on an Aboriginal community in more than 20 years.

The Bagala Aboriginal Corporation was granted a restaurant bar authority for the Bagala Social Club, which has committed to promoting responsible drinking in a family friendly environment with a focus on providing food.

The club will operate from noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm every day except one day a week which will be a designated youth day with no alcohol sales and a range of activities for young people.

The granting of the licence aligns with the Northern Territory Government’s program of local decision making, which allows Aboriginal people to determine their own futures.

Read the Liquor Commission’s decision PDF (743.7 KB).

The Elliott community has long discussed having a liquor permit system that allows residents in the community’s 3 town camps to consume limited amounts of alcohol in their homes.

The community strongly supported the permit system, leading to the formation of the Northern Barkly Permit Committee, which consists of the local council, Elliott community representatives, NT Police, Elliott School and the local Safe House.

The director liquor licensing approved the Elliott permit system in October 2021 with more than 40 permits issued since.

The committee considers all permit applications and provides recommendations to the director on whether or not to approve the applications.

The permit system is seen as a harm minimisation measure. Previously town camp residents were migrating to other areas to get access to liquor.

After several years of consultations, a 12‑month liquor permit trial began in the Kakadu region late last year. The trial includes: Kapalaga; Mamukala; Spring Peak; Paradise Farm; Patonga Homestead; Cannon Hill and Airstrip outstation. These are small homeland communities with many residents employed full-time.

Like the Northern Barkly Permit Committee, the Kakadu Liquor Permit Committee consists of Jabiru Primary Health Centre/Red Lily, the Jabiru Area School, NT Police and a representative from each homeland.

The permit system allows a fortnightly alcohol allocation for those homeland communities included in the trial. To date more than 20 permits have been issued.

With the official start of the dry season approaching, Licensing NT is seeing a ramping up of applications for special events and liquor applications as the pandemic response continues to evolve.

Licensees and event managers are reminded to ensure appropriate responsible service of alcohol measures are in place, your staff are adequately trained and all measures are in accordance with the Liquor Act 2019. Event managers should particularly ensure adequate notice is given for an event application.

If you are in doubt email itt.lrascompliancedwn@nt.gov.au.

To ensure licensed liquor businesses are compliant with the Liquor Act 2019, you must notify Licensing NT of any change in your business structure or personnel on the approved forms.

This includes a change in nominee, change in contact details or there is a change in company structure. If you do not advise us, you could be in breach of your licence conditions and action may be taken.

For more information and advice email itt.lrascompliancedwn@nt.gov.au.