A youth curfew that's caught the nation's attention is coming to an end in Alice Springs. Now, the government is pitching its strategy for what's next. Among them, a suggestion to reduce the number of takeaway bottle shops.
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00:00 As the curfew's curtain call approaches, the territory's top cop and chief minister on a charm offensive over coffee, as focus shifts to what comes next.
00:14 The public will be able to experience the positive things that the curfew brought in without necessarily continuing the curfew.
00:21 While the total number of police will drop, an extra 35 officers will remain in town, supported by social workers and NGOs who will be out on the streets.
00:31 There's also a new community safety hub for the CBD and a promise from police that every bottle shop will be staffed with auxiliaries until the end of June.
00:42 We will maintain a full lockdown of nine takeaway outlets during their trading hours in Alice Springs into the foreseeable future.
00:49 Bottle shops are considered a key part of the solution and one idea is gaining traction, reducing the amount of takeaway liquor shops here in Central Australia.
01:00 I think it could certainly reduce some of that localised harm and anti-social behaviour we see in our suburbs.
01:08 There's nine outlets that need full coverage now based on the government's commitment. If that could be reduced a outlet or two, we know that that would have an impact.
01:18 Negotiations in Alice Springs to buy licences under a Territory Government buyback scheme have hit a roadblock with one local grocery store that owns three licences.
01:30 We need the proper value for those liquor licences.
01:33 Now the Federal Government has suggested it could assist in covering the cost of a licence.
01:39 We'll work closely and collaboratively with the Northern Territory Government in pursuing those buybacks.
01:47 The Territory Government says it's open to the idea. Industry and frontline services largely agree that it's a workable solution.
01:55 It may do something in the short term but in the long term people can still access alcohol.
02:01 It will provide some benefits to perhaps the people who live near the stores that are currently selling but other than that it's not going to change the addiction.
02:11 One piece of a long term puzzle.
02:14 puzzle.
02:14 [BLANK_AUDIO]