Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now yesterday, if you were listening to the show, the
member for Catherine Joe Hersey says that she recently met
with the Liquor Accord, the local liquor Accord, hoping to
address an alcohol fueld some of the alcohol fueld issues
in the town, but she said there wasn't any industry
lead solutions. Now, she reckons police have recommended capping alcohol
sales to one transaction per day, but the industry wasn't
(00:22):
keen on that, citing the restrictions already in place like
the BDR.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Miss Hersey says it's also not as simple as reducing
bottle shop trading hours, with more work needed to find
a solution. Now, this is just a little bit of
what she had to say on the show yesterday. If
you missed it, there was a.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Liquor Accord meeting Katie on the third of June, and
I did attend that meeting. One thing that did you know,
I was sort of going there hoping that there would
be some industry lead solutions coming out of that meeting,
but there wasn't anything. It was a bit disappointing, So
you know, I' further conversation could probably happen with them,
(01:06):
But yeah, it was. So we have had a few
issues and we've had some funerals and people in town
for royalties and things, and there was a few weeks
ago where it was it was it was shocking, So yeah,
it was. It was disappointing at that meeting that there
was nothing really coming from them as solutions. I mean,
(01:29):
you know, government can come down and say this is
what you need to do, but I think it's better
when it comes from industry for some solutions.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So that was the minister and also the local member
for Catherine Joe Hersey on the show yesterday. Now joining
me on the line is the CEO of Hospitality here
in the Northern Territory, Kathy Simmons.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Good morning, Kathy, Morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Kathy. What's your reaction to the minister's comments on the
show yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Look, I do want to front end this call and
response by saying, to be really clear, we think the
Chief Minister and her entire cabinet, the anti government, including
Minister Hersey in her role as a cabinet member, are
doing a fantastic job of living up to their election
promises on crime and anty social behavior and in acting
(02:21):
to try and address that and to try and help
Territori and feel safe, and we think the Northern Territory
Police is doing a really good job too. The social
change we need to see for things to get better
takes time, and the government should be afforded that time
for these solutions to roll through.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
As you raise.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I heard Minister Johersey on your show yesterday and we
heard a bit there, and so did a lot of
my members. And I've got to tell you my text
line ran pretty hot yesterday too from some of my
Catherine members. Absolutely with respect to the Member for Catherine,
she attended the meeting for the first thirty minutes. The
meeting went for over an hour. We don't determine outcomes
(03:01):
and next steps in the first part of a meeting.
We line it up at the end. So my members
were very disappointed to hear those comments and feel that
there's an impatience or a pressure right. The next thing
my members have been disappointed in from yesterday's interview is
the continued push for industry led solutions. Thank you Katie
(03:22):
for reading out my text response to you yesterday, and
your listeners will note that I've been here now many
times saying the same thing over and over. The hospitality
industry in the Northern Territory has never been more regulated
and the problems have never been worse.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
There is very little.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Elsement that industry can do that will effectively produce demand
and reduce harmful behaviors without government and police assistance. We
have responsible service of alcohol. We have private security in
venues and in takeaway outlets, but these don't address root causes.
They don't address demand, they don't address harm. Just to
(04:04):
go to the restriction that was discussed on, you know,
one transaction per person per day. This is a restriction
that is already in place in the social utopias of
Alice Springs and Ten and Creek. Wholesale alcohol volume data
shows that even with all the restrictions, liquor sales are
actually going up in Ten and Creek. Problem drinkers find
(04:25):
alcohol wherever they can, either legal sales or secondary supply
from elsewhere. Were not prepared as an industry to entertain
ideas that just don't work. We need more demand side
strategies that will have a real effect.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
So from your perspective, you said there at the start
that the Liquor Record meeting happened. It went for over
an hour. The Minister was only there for the first
half of us. Were there, you know, were there any
sort of other discussions had or any ideas of what
may be able to happen differently from the industry's perspective,
(05:00):
or are they sort of feeling at this point in
time that you know, they're doing everything they can and
others need to step up.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
We're certainly not, you know, abrogating our own responsibilities here,
you know, to be clear, my members want to be
part of the solution with programs and policies that will work.
And we know a few things that do work. There's studies,
independent studies, research studies that show what in the Northern
(05:29):
Territory works. We know, full coverage of palis at takeaway
outlets works. We now know from the Anti Police telling
us at this Liquor coord meeting in Katherine that police
applying a lot more band drinker orders, going on a
bit of a blitz for band drinker orders works. They
told us in this meeting, even without full coverage of
(05:50):
pallis at the takeaway outlets. They told us that all
the band drinker orders applied over the months of sort
of February March April. It's been effective at bringing anti
social behavior and crime back down to the level that
was there with full coverage of PALIS. This is great,
This is good to know that there are multiple solutions
(06:10):
here that do work. But continuing to restrict supply the
supply side things that industry is already doing or could do,
they're not effective. We just we want solutions that are effective.
The solutions of PALLIS and applying band drink or orders.
We the industry, we can't implement those what we have.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
From your perspective, I mean, is anything from the industry's
perspective in Catherine that you know that they sort of
feel could be happening differently or I don't know, you know,
like what are they saying to you?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Absolutely, you know, it's part of the problem with full
coverage of PALIS is trying to get people who want
to be PALIS. It's really hard to recruit here in
the territory. You've just heard you before talking about whether
NT police are paid the most or middle or whatever
it is. Even if they were paid the most, like,
they're still struggling to get the recruitment numbers that we
(07:10):
need to see here, so it's going to be very
difficult to recruit palis. So a discussion that was at
this meeting was what information can police share with our
private security staff that can meet them halfway on palis?
What is the effective information that Pali's had that made
(07:31):
them effective on those bottle shop doors, on those takeaway
outlet doors that private security can step in and assist
with because they are the private security is going to
be there anyway, So let's work together. That's the kind
of industry led solution that was discussed. That is what
we're trying to come together with the government and try
(07:52):
new things because we can't keep going on the way
that we are and expecting things to change.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Kathy tell me, I mean his industry people getting a
bit pisced off that the you know, the questions always
come up, should there be a reduction in alcohol, Should
there be changes to the way in which alcohol, you know,
is served, when, as you've said, you know, problem drinkers
are already going to get their hands on alcohol no
matter what.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Oh, look, it's an easy policy response. I suppose to
restrict supply because it's controllable, it's you know, it's already
regulated it's controllable. So I think my industry members understand
where government or other commentators are coming from when they
call for it, But the response is still that yep,
(08:37):
I know that it's easy to do, but it's not effective.
Why don't we try something that's going to be more effective?
And we know what's effective? As I said, they're study
after study saying what is effective?
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Before I let you go this morning, can I ask?
Obviously the government have made the announcement earlier in the
week plans to trial OC spray, allowing Territorians to buy
it under strict conditions as a tool for self defense.
What's been the reaction from industry to this announcement.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, well, I'm still talking to members and hearing their views,
and we'll certainly be speaking to counterparts in Western Australia
to work through what experiences they've had with OC spray
and what this trial will mean for our industry the person.
It seems like the personal choice to carry OC spray
will be a matter for individuals. As an industry, we
(09:27):
work very hard to ensure our staff and security provide
a safe space for people to enjoy themselves. So you know,
probably wouldn't want to see it out on the dance floor.
But again, like I really want to acknowledge what the
government is trying to do with this policy and putting
it to the community for discussion and for this feedback.
Is they're trying to make territories feel safer and acknowledge
(09:50):
again the hard work that anti police have been doing
and continue to do to address crime and anti social
behavior and keep our community safe. It's a good thing
for them community as a whole to be able to
have this discussion because trying nothing new and expecting things
to get better is just not going to work.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Good Point Hospitality and TCEO Kathy Simmons, good to speak
with you this morning. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Thanks so much, Katie, Thank you
Now yesterday, if you were listening to the show, the
member for Catherine Joe Hersey says that she recently met
with the Liquor Accord, the local liquor Accord, hoping to
address an alcohol fueld some of the alcohol fueld issues
in the town, but she said there wasn't any industry
lead solutions. Now, she reckons police have recommended capping alcohol
sales to one transaction per day, but the industry wasn't
(00:22):
keen on that, citing the restrictions already in place like
the BDR.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Miss Hersey says it's also not as simple as reducing
bottle shop trading hours, with more work needed to find
a solution. Now, this is just a little bit of
what she had to say on the show yesterday. If
you missed it, there was a.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Liquor Accord meeting Katie on the third of June, and
I did attend that meeting. One thing that did you know,
I was sort of going there hoping that there would
be some industry lead solutions coming out of that meeting,
but there wasn't anything. It was a bit disappointing, So
you know, I' further conversation could probably happen with them,
(01:06):
But yeah, it was. So we have had a few
issues and we've had some funerals and people in town
for royalties and things, and there was a few weeks
ago where it was it was it was shocking, So yeah,
it was. It was disappointing at that meeting that there
was nothing really coming from them as solutions. I mean,
(01:29):
you know, government can come down and say this is
what you need to do, but I think it's better
when it comes from industry for some solutions.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So that was the minister and also the local member
for Catherine Joe Hersey on the show yesterday. Now joining
me on the line is the CEO of Hospitality here
in the Northern Territory, Kathy Simmons.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Good morning, Kathy, Morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Kathy. What's your reaction to the minister's comments on the
show yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Look, I do want to front end this call and
response by saying, to be really clear, we think the
Chief Minister and her entire cabinet, the anti government, including
Minister Hersey in her role as a cabinet member, are
doing a fantastic job of living up to their election
promises on crime and anty social behavior and in acting
(02:21):
to try and address that and to try and help
Territori and feel safe, and we think the Northern Territory
Police is doing a really good job too. The social
change we need to see for things to get better
takes time, and the government should be afforded that time
for these solutions to roll through.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
As you raise.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I heard Minister Johersey on your show yesterday and we
heard a bit there, and so did a lot of
my members. And I've got to tell you my text
line ran pretty hot yesterday too from some of my
Catherine members. Absolutely with respect to the Member for Catherine,
she attended the meeting for the first thirty minutes. The
meeting went for over an hour. We don't determine outcomes
(03:01):
and next steps in the first part of a meeting.
We line it up at the end. So my members
were very disappointed to hear those comments and feel that
there's an impatience or a pressure right. The next thing
my members have been disappointed in from yesterday's interview is
the continued push for industry led solutions. Thank you Katie
(03:22):
for reading out my text response to you yesterday, and
your listeners will note that I've been here now many
times saying the same thing over and over. The hospitality
industry in the Northern Territory has never been more regulated
and the problems have never been worse.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
There is very little.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Elsement that industry can do that will effectively produce demand
and reduce harmful behaviors without government and police assistance. We
have responsible service of alcohol. We have private security in
venues and in takeaway outlets, but these don't address root causes.
They don't address demand, they don't address harm. Just to
(04:04):
go to the restriction that was discussed on, you know,
one transaction per person per day. This is a restriction
that is already in place in the social utopias of
Alice Springs and Ten and Creek. Wholesale alcohol volume data
shows that even with all the restrictions, liquor sales are
actually going up in Ten and Creek. Problem drinkers find
(04:25):
alcohol wherever they can, either legal sales or secondary supply
from elsewhere. Were not prepared as an industry to entertain
ideas that just don't work. We need more demand side
strategies that will have a real effect.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
So from your perspective, you said there at the start
that the Liquor Record meeting happened. It went for over
an hour. The Minister was only there for the first
half of us. Were there, you know, were there any
sort of other discussions had or any ideas of what
may be able to happen differently from the industry's perspective,
(05:00):
or are they sort of feeling at this point in
time that you know, they're doing everything they can and
others need to step up.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
We're certainly not, you know, abrogating our own responsibilities here,
you know, to be clear, my members want to be
part of the solution with programs and policies that will work.
And we know a few things that do work. There's studies,
independent studies, research studies that show what in the Northern
(05:29):
Territory works. We know, full coverage of palis at takeaway
outlets works. We now know from the Anti Police telling
us at this Liquor coord meeting in Katherine that police
applying a lot more band drinker orders, going on a
bit of a blitz for band drinker orders works. They
told us in this meeting, even without full coverage of
(05:50):
pallis at the takeaway outlets. They told us that all
the band drinker orders applied over the months of sort
of February March April. It's been effective at bringing anti
social behavior and crime back down to the level that
was there with full coverage of PALIS. This is great,
This is good to know that there are multiple solutions
(06:10):
here that do work. But continuing to restrict supply the
supply side things that industry is already doing or could do,
they're not effective. We just we want solutions that are effective.
The solutions of PALLIS and applying band drink or orders.
We the industry, we can't implement those what we have.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
From your perspective, I mean, is anything from the industry's
perspective in Catherine that you know that they sort of
feel could be happening differently or I don't know, you know,
like what are they saying to you?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Absolutely, you know, it's part of the problem with full
coverage of PALIS is trying to get people who want
to be PALIS. It's really hard to recruit here in
the territory. You've just heard you before talking about whether
NT police are paid the most or middle or whatever
it is. Even if they were paid the most, like,
they're still struggling to get the recruitment numbers that we
(07:10):
need to see here, so it's going to be very
difficult to recruit palis. So a discussion that was at
this meeting was what information can police share with our
private security staff that can meet them halfway on palis?
What is the effective information that Pali's had that made
(07:31):
them effective on those bottle shop doors, on those takeaway
outlet doors that private security can step in and assist
with because they are the private security is going to
be there anyway, So let's work together. That's the kind
of industry led solution that was discussed. That is what
we're trying to come together with the government and try
(07:52):
new things because we can't keep going on the way
that we are and expecting things to change.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Kathy tell me, I mean his industry people getting a
bit pisced off that the you know, the questions always
come up, should there be a reduction in alcohol, Should
there be changes to the way in which alcohol, you know,
is served, when, as you've said, you know, problem drinkers
are already going to get their hands on alcohol no
matter what.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Oh, look, it's an easy policy response. I suppose to
restrict supply because it's controllable, it's you know, it's already
regulated it's controllable. So I think my industry members understand
where government or other commentators are coming from when they
call for it, But the response is still that yep,
(08:37):
I know that it's easy to do, but it's not effective.
Why don't we try something that's going to be more effective?
And we know what's effective? As I said, they're study
after study saying what is effective?
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Before I let you go this morning, can I ask?
Obviously the government have made the announcement earlier in the
week plans to trial OC spray, allowing Territorians to buy
it under strict conditions as a tool for self defense.
What's been the reaction from industry to this announcement.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, well, I'm still talking to members and hearing their views,
and we'll certainly be speaking to counterparts in Western Australia
to work through what experiences they've had with OC spray
and what this trial will mean for our industry the person.
It seems like the personal choice to carry OC spray
will be a matter for individuals. As an industry, we
(09:27):
work very hard to ensure our staff and security provide
a safe space for people to enjoy themselves. So you know,
probably wouldn't want to see it out on the dance floor.
But again, like I really want to acknowledge what the
government is trying to do with this policy and putting
it to the community for discussion and for this feedback.
Is they're trying to make territories feel safer and acknowledge
(09:50):
again the hard work that anti police have been doing
and continue to do to address crime and anti social
behavior and keep our community safe. It's a good thing
for them community as a whole to be able to
have this discussion because trying nothing new and expecting things
to get better is just not going to work.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Good Point Hospitality and TCEO Kathy Simmons, good to speak
with you this morning. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Thanks so much, Katie, Thank you
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