The Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review six monthly updates released by the Attorney-General and Minister for Health.

• The Northern Territory Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan: February 2019 Update sets out current progress against the four key areas of the Action Plan.
• NT Government Position on Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report Recommendations: February 2019 Progress Update details the progress against the original 220 recommendations from the Final Report.
• The social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory report is released. This report was commissioned by the Northern Territory Government. It was prepared as a partnership between Menzies School of Health Research and the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies based at the University of Adelaide. This report sets out the social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory.

The Liquor Commission Bill and Liquor Legislation Amendment (Licensing) Bill passes in the Legislative Assembly.

• This completes recommendations 2.1.4, 2.1.6, 2.1.7, 2.2.1, 2.2.5, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.5.22, 2.5.24, 2.5.26, 2.5.31, 2.6.1, and 2.6.2 of the Report, and is progress against recommendations 2.1.5, 3.3.4, and 2.5.20.
• The Liquor Commission Bill establishes the NT Liquor Commission, an independent legal body who will determine licence applications and variations to licence conditions, alterations to premises, and disciplinary matters. The Liquor Commission will hold public hearings where appropriate.
• The Liquor Legislation Amendment (Licensing) Bill mandates a ‘public interest and community impact’ test for decisions made under the Liquor Act, and formalises the five-year moratorium on new takeaway licences.

The Northern Territory Department of Health drafts a scoping paper for a demand study into alcohol treatment services in the NT.

• This is progress on recommendations 4.1.3–4.1.7 of the Report and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

Membership of the NT Liquor Commission announced.

• The Commission is chaired by Mr Richard Coates and includes 12 members with a broad range of experience in the legal, health, hospitality and tourism industries.

The NT Government’s formal Response to the Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report is released. The two documents are:

• Table of Recommendations: NT Government Position on Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report’s Recommendations – which sets out the NT Government’s position on each of the Report’s 220 recommendations. Out of the 220 recommendations, 187 are supported, 32 are supported in-principle and one is not supported.
• NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019 – which sets out the policy and legislative reforms, enforcement and compliance activities and harm management strategies/services that the NT Government is committed to delivering in order to minimise harms associated with alcohol misuse.

The NT Government announces the impending introduction of a minimum floor price of $1.30 per standard drink to minimise the harm associated with high-alcohol, low-cost products.

• This is progress on recommendations 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

NT Police trial the ‘Last Drinks Survey’ in Darwin. The ‘Last Drinks Survey’ allows Police to identify where people purchased and consumed their last drinks.

• This is progress against recommendation 1.3.9 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

The Community Impact Assessment Guidelines are published by the NT Government as required under the Liquor Act.

• This completes recommendation 2.1.5 of the Report.
• The Guidelines will be applied when making decisions under the Liquor Act.

Work begins on finalising new working arrangements between Licensing NT and NT Police.

• This is progress against recommendation 2.7.3 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

The NT Government announces an $11.83 million annual investment establishing a new 97-member unit within NT Police. The unit will include 75 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors to be stationed in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine, 12 dedicated police officers targeting the secondary supply of alcohol in the NT, seven operational staff to ensure liquor licensing monitoring and compliance, and three prosecutors to carry out liquor licensing enforcement action.

• This is progress on recommendations 3.6.2–3.6.4 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

The NT Government also announces 10 mobile CCTV cameras will be stationed outside bottle shops to monitor alcohol-related antisocial behaviour and crime.

The NT Government announces further details about the 12 dedicated police officers targeting the secondary supply of alcohol in the NT.

The 12 police officers will focus on investigating and preventing the secondary supply of alcohol to people on the Banned Drinker Register throughout the NT.

Licensing NT begins reviewing the Code of Practice for the Responsible Promotion and Service of Alcohol to ensure it meets alcohol-related harm minimisation principles.

• This is progress against recommendation 2.10.11 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

Licensing NT publishes copies of current NT liquor accords online.

• This completes recommendation 2.5.35 of the Report.

The Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Bill 2018 is introduced in the Legislative Assembly.

• This is progress against recommendations 2.7.4 and 3.6.2 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.
• The legislation allows Police Auxiliaries to perform point of sale duties, and gives the Commissioner of Police powers to suspend a liquor licence for up to 48 hours.

First meeting of the Alcohol on the Water Working Group.

• This is progress against recommendation 2.11.1 of the Report.
• The working group is made up of representatives from the Amateur Fishermen’s Association NT, NT Seafood Council, NT Guided Fishing Association, and NT Government departments who will provide advice to the NT Government on the implementation of recommendation 2.11.1.

Starting Early for a Better Future Early Childhood Development Plan launched by the Minister for Children. Starting Early for a Better Future is a 10-year strategic plan, supported by a number of actions and targets.

• This completes recommendations 3.8.1 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

The Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Bill 2018 was passed in the Legislative Assembly.

• This completes recommendations 3.6.1, 3.6.2, 3.6.3, 3.6.4 and 3.6.5.
• The Point of Sale Intervention Bill amends the Liquor Act to give Police Auxiliaries the powers they need to replace Police Officers outside of takeaway alcohol outlets.
• Recruitment and training of Police Auxiliaries are expected to commence as soon as practicable to ensure all takeaway licences in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs will have a point of sale intervention.

The Liquor Amendment (Minimum Pricing) Bill 2018 is introduced in the Legislative Assembly.

• This is progress against recommendations 3.2.1, 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.
• The Minimum Pricing Bill will set a minimum price of $1.30 per standard drink in the Northern Territory.
• The legislation will also strengthen penalties for secondary supply and address interstate and internet sales

The Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review six monthly updates released by the Attorney-General and Minister for Health.

• The Northern Territory Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan: August 2018 Update sets out current progress against the four key areas of the Action Plan.
• NT Government Position on Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report Recommendations: August 2018 Progress Update details the progress against the original 220 recommendations from the Final Report.
• The NT Government has also released the Response to the Banned Drinker Register Evaluation Report Recommendations. The BDR Evaluation Report made 23 recommendations for enhancements and improving the impact of the BDR. 14 recommendations are supported, with a further 9 supported in principle.

The Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report (the Report) was released with 220 recommendations. The NT Government immediately responds by:

• Ruling out recommendation 2.5.6, which would have prohibited the sale of takeaway alcohol on Sundays.
• Committing to considering the remaining 219 recommendations and to deliver a formal response to the Report by early 2018.
• Introducing a five-year moratorium on new takeaway licences.

The Alcohol Review Implementation Team is established in the Department of the Chief Minister to coordinate the reforms.

• This completes recommendations 1.1.4–1.1.6 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019.

First meeting of the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Working Group.

• This group is made up of representatives from NT Government departments working together to progress the NT’s alcohol policies and legislation reforms.

The five-year moratorium on new takeaway liquor licences comes into effect.

• This completes an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019, and is progress against recommendation 2.5.20 of the Report.

First meeting of the Alcohol Review Implementation Steering Committee.

• The Steering Committee is made up of Chief Executives of NT Government departments, meet on a monthly basis to review the progress of the NT’s alcohol policies and legislation reform process.

First meeting of the Liquor Act Rewrite Working Group.

• This is progress against recommendations 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of the Report, and an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019
• The Working Group is made up of representatives from NT Government departments tasked with reviewing and providing feedback on the drafting instructions for the rewrite of the Liquor Act.
• The Liquor Act rewrite will eventually address more than 70 recommendations of the Report.

First meeting of the Industry Reference Group.

• This is an initiative under the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019
• The Industry Reference Group consists of 12 members from on-licence establishments with extensive knowledge in the hospitality, tourism and accommodation industries who provide advice to the NT Government on reforms that affect the industry.