The Hon. Lia Finocchiaro, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory; The Hon. Steve Edgington, Minister for Alcohol Policy (NT), Joint Media Release, 26 November 2025

The Finocchiaro CLP Government today released its Banned Drinkers Register Review as the latest crime data is released across the Territory.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Territory’s latest crime statistics, covering January to September this year compared with the same period last year, show an 8.3 per cent reduction in victims of crime, with 1,635 fewer Territorians becoming victims.

Breakdown by region includes:

• Greater Darwin Region: 457 fewer victims (6 per cent decrease)
• Alice Springs: 951 fewer victims (18 per cent decrease)
• Katherine: 15 fewer victims (1 per cent decrease)
• Tennant Creek: 37 fewer victims (5 per cent decrease)

“Today I can announce we are further increasing public drinking bans; the 7-day Banned Drinker Order will move to 28 days from next month.

“This gives Police an additional tool to combat alcohol-fuelled violence and crime and further protect our community.

“My government will continue to take action to put the rights of victims and the community ahead of offenders,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

Earlier this year in Katherine, Police undertook an operation to drive down crime, resulting in a 354 per cent increase in BDOs issued. During that period, the community saw a significant reduction in crime.

Minister for Alcohol Policy Steve Edgington said the release of the BDR Review delivered on an important election commitment.

“The BDR Review, like all other published data, makes clear the greatest alcohol policy failure in a decade occurred when Labor allowed the Stronger Futures legislation to lapse.

“The Finocchiaro CLP Government will now consider the BDR Review, but we will fast track one of the Review’s recommendations, strengthening Banned Drinker Orders.

“I will bring to Parliament this week on urgency changes to the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 to give effect to this important change, Mr Edgington said.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole APM welcomed the extended booze ban as Police gear up for summer operations.

“Increasing the number of days from seven to 28 will be an important tool as we head into our summer season, which attracts a spike in alcohol-related crime,” Commissioner Dole said.

“Public drinking continues to remain our biggest catalyst for overall assaults and domestic violence, which is why our teams are already rolling out targeted intervention before things escalate.”

“Between 2 and 9 November alone, officers issued more than 130 Banned Drinker Orders and emptied more than 900 litres of alcohol.”