Table 1 Timeline of regulatory and legal events, adapted from FARE (2021) and Gilbert (2021) [65, 66]
Date | Event |
|---|---|
December 2016 | NT Liquor Regulations amended capping the maximum retail floor space at 400 square metres [67]. |
December 2016 | Woolworths applies for alcohol license substitution for Dan Murphy’s store |
March 2017 | Woolworths takes legal action questioning the regulatory powers of the Government at the Federal Court of Australia |
March 2017 | NT Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review panel announced [68]. |
August 2017 | Woolworths withdraws case from the Federal court |
October 2017 | Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 introduced based on recommendations of Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review [69] |
February 2018 | NT Independent Liquor Commission re-established to regulate liquor licencing in the NT [70, 71] |
June 2019 | Woolworths applies for alcohol substitution licence to swap a small alcohol outlet in Darwin for a large alcohol outlet close to three ‘dry’ Aboriginal communities |
September 2019 | Liquor Commission denied application on the grounds that the new premises did not yet exist, and this was a requirement for licence substitution within the Act [47]. |
October 2019 | New Liquor Act 2019 [72] introduced. Woolworths appeals Liquor Commission decision at the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) |
December 2019 | NTCAT denies Woolworths’ appeal |
January 2020 | Woolworths takes case to Supreme Court of the NT |
March 2020 | Liquor Amendment Bill 2020 [73] allows Liquor Commission to approve substitution of premises. when the proposed premises are not yet to be constructed |
April 2020 | Woolworths re-appeals the case at NTCAT |
November 2020 | Liquor Further Amendment Act 2020 [74] introduced, giving decision-making power on alcohol licenses to the Director of Liquor Licensing instead of Liquor Commission |
December 2020 | Director of Liquor Licensing grants approval of Woolworths’ application |
February 2021 | Woolworths board establishes Independent Panel Review (Gilbert Review). 138 stakeholder submissions received [66]. |
April 2021 | Gilbert Review report recommends Woolworths do not proceed, citing inadequate consultation with Aboriginal communities [66]. Woolworths abandons plan |
July 2021 | Woolworths announces demerger with Endeavour Group [75]. |