Australia: Northern Territory Government Investigated Over Alcohol
Police have been asked to investigate whether the Northern Territory Labor Government drafted its alcohol policy to cater to the interests of the alcohol industry in return for political donations.
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley announced on Thursday she had written to the police.
Today at midday I hand delivered a formal written referral to the Northern Territory police referring for investigation the Dan Murphy’s debacle involving the Chief Minister,” she said.
I’ve referred the police to investigate this matter in relation to section 77 of the Northern Territory criminal act. This section relates to corruption by a public officer or official.”
Sky News Australia reports that Chief Minister Michael Gunner is under fire over his Government’s alcohol policy which restricts the floor size of takeaway liquor outlets to 400 square metres. Questions remain about how the Government came up with the policy, which matches word-for-word a request made by the Australian Hotels Association (AHA). The AHA wanted the restriction to stop Woolworths liquor giant Dan Murphy’s from coming to Darwin.
Conflicting accounts
According to Sky News, the chief minister says the policy was developed to stop alcohol related harm, and that the first he knew about Dan Murphy’s plans to Darwin were in a news report last November. However, it is known that his chief of staff Alf Leonardi has met with the head of Woolworths liquor a month earlier.
I trust my chief of staff who has very clearly advised Woolworths did not raise moving Dan Murphy’s in that meeting,” the Chief Minister claimed, per Sky News.
Woolworths says it has detailed notes of that meeting and that Dan Murphy’s was the main topic of meeting.