Shadow Minister for Alcohol Policy, Gerard Maley, says the Gunner Government’s own study shows that total alcohol consumption only dropped in regions where Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) were stationed at bottle shops, and saw no decline in areas PALIs don’t man takeaway liquor outlets.
“This data does not support a minimum floor price – this data supports the use of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors.”
“The government’s own report shows areas with Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors had lower total alcohol consumption, and where there were no PALIs there was no drop in consumption. Yet the report states that this success was due to the minimum floor price.
Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors are only on takeaway outlets outside of Darwin and Palmerston. In Darwin and Palmerston, there are no PALIs.
“Even the report admits that PALIs may have had an impact, but that impact cannot be measured. The report also notes that spirit consumption in Darwin and Palmerston increased after the floor price, but did not offer an explanation.
“More data is required as the time period was limited; between 2013 and 2019. The minimum floor price commenced in October 2018, which means it had been operating for less than 12 months when this data was collated.
“A Country Liberal government would scrap the minimum floor price, and conduct a full review of the Banned Drinker Register to assess whether it’s having any impact on reducing alcohol-related harm and crime,” said Mr Maley.