RELATED STORY: Dan Murphy's Northern Territory saga reaches final hurdles before decision
RELATED STORY: Liquor giant Dan Murphy's a step closer to having Northern Territory footprint
RELATED STORY: Dan Murphy's liquor giant opponents to raise voice at Northern Territory meeting
Liquor giant Dan Murphy's faces an uphill battle in its bid to build its first Northern Territory superstore, with 17 objections lodged against the application and hearings to take longer than first expected.
Key points:
- An NT Liquor Commission inquiry into whether or not Dan Murphy's will be permitted to be built in the NT has held its first session in Darwin
- The hearing today heard from Woolworths' legal counsel, who spruiked the possible economic benefits the store could bring
- Dan Murphy's are yet to formally respond to any of the 17 objections, according to NT Liquor Commission chair Richard Coates
Objectors lining up to lay out their arguments against the proposal included the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), Danila Dilba, the NT Council of Social Services and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
Most of the objections, yet to be explained in full, were expected to relate to the store's potential impact on Darwin's problem drinkers and its planned proximity to three nearby Aboriginal communities.
No representatives from Bagot, Minmarama or Kulaluk communities attended the hearing's first day.
