Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says the community wants urgent action to combat alcohol-related crime following the fatal stabbing of a young worker at a Darwin bottle shop, but she is yet to outline her government's response.
Key points:
- Declan Laverty, 20, was fatally stabbed at a bottle shop in Darwin on Sunday night
- A 19-year-old has been charged with murder, aggravated robbery and breach of bail
- The NT government is yet to outline its response to calls for tougher penalties
Declan Laverty, 20, was killed at the BWS drive-through at the Airport Tavern in Jingili on Sunday night, less than a month after the local hospitality industry warned of an increase in "weaponised" and "aggressive" incidents.
A 19-year-old man has now been charged with murder, aggravated robbery and breach of bail.
Police have also charged three other youths allegedly involved in separate but connected incidents earlier on Sunday evening.
Speaking on ABC Radio Darwin, a visibly shaken Natasha Fyles said the community was reeling from the incident.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking," Ms Fyles said.
"It makes me angry, but it [also] just makes me sad.
"There's no words that can bring back this young man."
The Labor leader said her government had implemented a range of initiatives designed to reduce alcohol-related crime, including a 30 per cent boost in police funding as well as increased penalties for offenders.
However, she acknowledged additional measures were needed.
"There will be further changes in this space, we have to provide that safe working environment, we have to provide a safe environment for our community," she said.
Ms Fyles stopped short of outlining what changes were being considered, and did not say when they would be implemented.
"We need to make sure that what we put in place is well thought out," she said.
"And that's why it's important to work with police, work with industry particularly [as] they understand this type of business environment.
"But there will be announcements with a sense of urgency. I know that's what the community wants."
Earlier this year, the NT government reintroduced alcohol bans in remote communities and reduced the operating hours of takeaway liquor outlets in Alice Springs following a surge in break-ins and domestic violence.
Ms Fyles said similar restrictions were "not necessary at this point" in Darwin.
She also urged community members not to participate in vigilantism following calls by some people on social media to take matters into their own hands.
"That does worry me," Ms Fyles said.
"We need people to understand this horrific incident, police are thoroughly investigating it, they have a person in custody and there is a strong justice process there.
"And they also need to understand the multitude of measures that the Northern Territory government has put in place to stop this type of behaviour from occurring."
NT Opposition demands 'immediate crackdown'
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro described the young man's death at work as "heart wrenching".
"I think it has just struck a chord with every single Territorian," the CLP leader told Mix FM.
"We must now force and drive change, Declan's death cannot be in vain.
"This has got to be a turning point for the Fyles government to do things differently and stop the carnage on our streets because people have had enough."
She said the government should implement an "immediate crackdown".
"We want to see a crackdown using every available force from the government to show that there is community order, that there is law and order, and that people will be protected," Ms Finocchiaro said.
She also called for tougher penalties for people who breach their bail conditions.
Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the government would take a "considered" approach to any new measures.
He said "nothing's off the table" but wouldn't be drawn on whether this included tougher bail laws.
"The Northern Territory government will always look at, where it is appropriate, to bring in changes to strengthen the community safety," he said.
Chief Minister to meet with liquor and hospitality industry
The chief executive of Hospitality NT said concerns had been mounting in recent weeks about the scale and level of violence experienced by industry members.
"It is without a doubt the strong, industry-wide view that this unfortunately has been building and coming," Alex Bruce told ABC Radio Darwin.
"And it's just a tragic, tragic outcome that we had to get to this point."
He said dangerous incidents had been occurring in a range of settings.
"It's not just a bottle shop issue," he said.
"We've had sledgehammers at cafes. We've had grown men with axes in their back pocket walking down main streets of suburbs of Darwin."
Mr Bruce acknowledged there was no single measure that could fix the issue.
"As horrible and raw and angry and emotional as everyone is, we do all just need to come together," he said.
"There is no quick fix, we know that, otherwise it absolutely would have happened by now."
However, he said the government's response to the escalating violence had been inadequate.
"It's getting more and more aggressive, and more and more violent, and there hasn't been a response brought forward to deal with that," he said.
Endeavour Group, which operates BWS liquor outlets, said counselling was being provided to its staff in the NT following the tragedy.
"Our focus is their safety and wellbeing, and we constantly assess and update security procedures in our stores to ensure they are fit for purpose.
"A full internal review of each of our sites in the NT and their security and safety measures has already commenced in the wake of this tragedy."
The review comes several weeks after the company reduced the opening times of its Darwin and Palmerston stores by an hour due to safety concerns.
The Chief Minister is expected to meet with the liquor and hospitality industries on Tuesday.
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2023-03-21 05:26:30Z
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