Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007

Administered by Department of Social Services

Legislation au C2007A00141 In force Act

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Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007

 

No. 141, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Alcohol

Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007

 

 

 

Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007

No. 141, 2007

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007, and for related purposes

[Assented to 14 September 2007]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

14 September 2007

2.  Schedule 1

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

15 September 2007

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.

 (2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Alcohol

 

Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007

1  Paragraph 12(1)(a)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (a) each prescribed area were a general restricted area under that Act; and

2  After subsection 12(3)

Insert:

 (3A) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (2) if the defendant proves that, at the time the conduct referred to in paragraph (2)(a) was engaged in:

 (a) the defendant was engaged in recreational activities in a national park, a Northern Territory park or an area covered by a declaration made by the Commonwealth Minister under subsection (8A); and

 (b) the activities were organised by a person whose business consists of or includes operating tours for tourists; and

 (c) if the area is a park—the activities are consistent with the management plan or similar document (if any) for the park; and

 (d) if the conduct is conduct referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(iii)—the defendant was behaving in a responsible manner.

 (3B) In subsection (3A), recreational activities does not include an activity the sole or primary purpose of which is the consumption of liquor.

 (3C) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subparagraph (2)(a)(i) or (ii) if the defendant proves that, at the time the conduct referred to in that subparagraph was engaged in, the defendant was engaging in the conduct for the purpose of engaging in recreational activities covered by subsection (3A).

3  After subsection 12(5)

Insert:

 (5A) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (4) if the defendant proves that, at the time the conduct referred to in paragraph (4)(a) was engaged in:

 (a) the defendant and the third person were engaged in recreational activities in a national park, a Northern Territory park or an area covered by a declaration made by the Commonwealth Minister under subsection (8A); and

 (b) the activities were organised by a person whose business consists of or includes operating tours for tourists; and

 (c) if the area is a park—the activities are consistent with the management plan or similar document (if any) for the park.

 (5B) In subsection (5A), recreational activities does not include an activity the sole or primary purpose of which is the consumption of liquor.

 (5C) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subparagraph (4)(a)(ii) or (iii) if the defendant proves that, at the time the conduct referred to in that subparagraph was engaged in, the defendant was engaging in the conduct for the purpose of engaging in recreational activities covered by subsection (5A).

4  After subsection 12(8)

Insert:

 (8A) The Commonwealth Minister may declare that a specified area of land or waters in a prescribed area is an area in relation to which a defence under subsection (3A), (3C), (5A) or (5C) is available.

5  Subsection 12(9)

After “subsection (8)”, insert “or (8A)”.

6  Subsection 19(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (1) The Commonwealth Minister may declare that this Division, or specified provisions of this Division:

 (a) cease to have effect; or

 (b) cease to have effect in relation to a specified prescribed area or a specified part of a prescribed area.

7  Division 3 of Part 2

Repeal the Division.

8  Before Division 4 of Part 2

Insert:

Division 3A—Sales of liquor for consumption away from licensed premises

20  Sales of liquor for consumption away from licensed premises

 (1) The Liquor Act has effect as if it included the following provisions of this section.

 (2) A licensee of licensed premises commits an offence if:

 (a) the licensee sells to a person (the purchaser) in a single transaction:

 (i) a quantity of liquor that has a purchase price of $100 or more (including GST); or

 (ii) a quantity of wine that exceeds 5 litres and is in a single container, or is in 2 or more containers of at least 2 litres each; and

 (b) the licensee knows that the liquor is for consumption away from the licensed premises or is reckless as to whether it is for consumption away from the licensed premises; and

 (c) the licensee has not complied with subsection (5) in relation to the sale.

Maximum penalty: 340 penalty units.

 (3) An employee of a licensee of licensed premises commits an offence if:

 (a) the employee sells to a person (the purchaser) in a single transaction:

 (i) a quantity of liquor that has a purchase price of $100 or more (including GST); or

 (ii) a quantity of wine that exceeds 5 litres and is in a single container, or is in 2 or more containers of at least 2 litres each; and

 (b) the employee knows that the liquor is for consumption away from the licensed premises or is reckless as to whether it is for consumption away from the licensed premises; and

 (c) the employee has not complied with subsection (5) in relation to the sale.

Maximum penalty: 60 penalty units.

 (4) A licensee of licensed premises commits an offence if:

 (a) an employee of the licensee sells to a person (the purchaser) in a single transaction:

 (i) a quantity of liquor that has a purchase price of $100 or more (including GST); or

 (ii) a quantity of wine that exceeds 5 litres and is in a single container, or is in 2 or more containers of at least 2 litres each; and

 (b) the employee knows that the liquor is for consumption away from the licensed premises or is reckless as to whether it is for consumption away from the licensed premises; and

 (c) the employee has not complied with subsection (5) in relation to the sale.

Maximum penalty: 170 penalty units.

 (5) The licensee or employee complies with this subsection if, before making the sale, the licensee or employee:

 (a) requires the purchaser to produce evidence of the purchaser’s identity that is of a kind listed in subsection (6); and

 (b) records the purchaser’s name and address as specified in that identity document; and

 (c) asks the purchaser where it is proposed that the alcohol will be consumed, and records the name or address of that place.

 (6) The kinds of identification are:

 (a) a passport; or

 (b) a driver’s licence issued in Australia; or

 (c) a proof of age card issued by the Motor Vehicle Registry Office of the Northern Territory or a Motor Vehicle Registry Authority in that Territory; or

 (d) some other form of identification determined by the Commission.

 (7) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) if the licensee proves that the licensee took all reasonable steps to ensure that the employee was aware of obligations of employees under this section.

21  Keeping and producing records

 (1) The Liquor Act has effect as if it included the following provisions of this section.

 (2) A licensee commits an offence if the licensee fails to keep, for at least 3 years after the records are made, records made as mentioned in subsection 20(5) of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 of the Commonwealth.

Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.

 (3) The records must be kept:

 (a) on or at the premises to which the licence relates; or

 (b) as directed in writing by the Commission.

 (4) A licensee must produce the records kept under subsection (2) to an inspector upon demand being made by the inspector on or at the premises to which the licence relates.

Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.

 (5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) if the licensee proves that the records:

 (a) are not on or at the premises to which the licence relates; and

 (b) are kept as directed in writing by the Commission.

22  Declarations by Commonwealth Minister

 (1) The Commonwealth Minister may declare that this Division, or specified provisions of this Division, cease to have effect.

 (2) A declaration is a legislative instrument, but neither section 42 (disallowance) nor Part 6 (sunsetting) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies to the declaration.

Note: This Act (other than Parts 4, 6 and 8 and Schedule 1) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 5 years beginning on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent: see section 6.

9  At the end of Part 2

Add:

Division 6—Certain things not valid

25A  Certain things not valid

  Any amendment of an Act or other law of the Northern Territory, or any action taken under an Act or other law of the Northern Territory, whether the amendment commences or the action is taken before or after the commencement of this section, has no force or effect, and is taken never to have had any force or effect, to the extent that it would otherwise have the effect of preventing the Liquor Act operating as if each prescribed area were a general restricted area.

25B  Declarations by Commonwealth Minister

 (1) The Commonwealth Minister may declare that this Division ceases to have effect.

 (2) A declaration is a legislative instrument, but neither section 42 (disallowance) nor Part 6 (sunsetting) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies to the declaration.

Note: This Act (other than Parts 4, 6 and 8 and Schedule 1) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 5 years beginning on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent: see section 6.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 11 September 2007

House of Representatives on 13 September 2007]

(171/07)

 

Overview

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address specific issues related to alcohol consumption and its regulation in prescribed areas within the Northern Territory. This Act amends the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 to introduce new measures and defences concerning alcohol consumption in designated areas. The primary objective of the Act is to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol in certain areas by imposing restrictions and requirements on liquor sales, particularly for consumption away from licensed premises. This legislation aims to support the broader policy goals of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act by providing additional mechanisms to control alcohol-related issues in specified areas. The Act includes provisions that allow the Commonwealth Minister to declare areas where certain defences related to alcohol consumption apply, and it imposes obligations on licensees and employees of licensed premises to verify the identity of purchasers and record details of alcohol sales intended for consumption away from licensed premises. The policy objective behind these measures is to mitigate the adverse effects of alcohol misuse in prescribed areas by ensuring that alcohol sales are properly monitored and controlled. The Act also includes provisions to ensure that any amendments to existing Northern Territory laws that would undermine the operation of the Liquor Act in prescribed areas are rendered invalid.

Scope and Application

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007 is a Commonwealth Act that amends the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007, aiming to impose stricter regulations on alcohol sales and consumption in prescribed areas of the Northern Territory. This Act applies to all prescribed areas within the Northern Territory and is focused on regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol in these regions, particularly targeting the sale of alcohol for consumption away from licensed premises. The Act applies to licensees and employees of licensed premises within these areas, who are subject to specific obligations and prohibitions regarding the sale of alcohol. The Commonwealth Minister has the authority to declare certain areas where these provisions will apply, and these declarations are legislative instruments not subject to disallowance or sunsetting. Notably, the Act excludes certain recreational activities from its purview if they are organised by businesses operating tours for tourists and are consistent with park management plans or similar documents. The Act also provides defences for certain activities that align with recreational activities in national or Northern Territory parks. This legislation operates within the jurisdictional scope of the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory, applying specifically to areas designated under the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007.

Key Provisions

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007 (Act) amends the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTNERA). The main operative sections include the establishment of general restricted areas in prescribed areas (Section 12(1)(a)), the introduction of specific defences for certain activities in national parks, Northern Territory parks, or areas declared by the Commonwealth Minister (Sections 12(3A) and 12(5A)), and the ability of the Commonwealth Minister to declare certain areas as eligible for these defences (Section 12(8A)). Additionally, it introduces offences related to the sale of liquor for consumption away from licensed premises (Section 20) and mandates the keeping and production of records of such sales (Section 21). The Act also includes provisions that render certain amendments to the Liquor Act or other actions taken under the Liquor Act invalid (Sections 25A and 25B). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Licensees of licensed premises and their employees must comply with specific conditions when selling liquor for consumption away from licensed premises. This includes requiring the purchaser to produce valid identification and recording details of the sale, such as the purchaser’s name, address, and intended location of consumption (Section 20(5)). Licensees are also required to keep records of these sales for at least three years and must produce these records to an inspector upon request (Section 21). Furthermore, any amendment to the Liquor Act or other actions taken under the Liquor Act that would prevent it from operating as if prescribed areas were general restricted areas are rendered invalid (Section 25A). The Act specifies several offences and penalties for breaches. For example, selling liquor for consumption away from licensed premises without complying with the necessary identification and recording requirements can result in an offence. The penalties for such offences vary depending on the specific circumstances and the person committing the offence, ranging from 60 to 340 penalty units (Section 20). Failure to keep or produce records of sales as required under Section 21 also carries a penalty of up to 50 penalty units. Additionally, the Act includes provisions that declare certain amendments or actions invalid, effectively nullifying their effect (Section 25A).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.