Takeaway liquor outlets in the Barkly are urged to take advantage of funding from the NT Government to engage crowd control services during permitted takeaway operating hours.

The Crowd Control Assistance Grant will provide immediate financial support to outlets who are experiencing antisocial behaviour on their premises or who have been impacted by crime.

The grant covers crowd control services during the hours of operation where the business is allowed to sell alcohol and includes takeaway outlets and public bars and clubs with a physical bottleshop.

Eligible business will receive a grant paid in monthly instalments until 30 June to offset the cost of crowd control services and must provide evidence they have engaged a suitably qualified crowd controller before they receive funding.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the assistance grant is part of a suite of measures aimed at improving community safety and the safety of workers in the retail sales sector selling alcoholic beverages.

“We are putting Territorians first with world-leading alcohol reforms to cut alcohol-related harm and reduce antisocial behaviour in our community,” she said.

“This included measures like the Banned Drinkers Register and risk-based licensing – but we know there is still more work to do.”

Hospitality NT CEO Alex Bruce welcomed the grant initiative, believing it will send the message that threatening behaviours will not be tolerated by the industry or the community.

“Staff and customers should feel safe in our bottleshops and this visible measure will go a long way to help achieve that.”

Applications close on 23 June 2023. For more information visit nt.gov.au/crowd-control-grant.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 7 April 2023.