Gday,
Follow up from ThreadID: 65027
After not being to get any info ( or replies ) out of the appropriate people regarding the laws I contected the Mayor of
Alice Springs ( the real one KIM!!!!) and sent him the same letter.
I got a relpy from him with in half an hour and a letter from Licensing, Regulation and Alcohol Strategy
Department of Justice, half an hour after that.
Here is the reply
G'day Sean,
Damien Ryan has forwarded your email to me for a response.
Do all the National parks on the way to
Glen Helen from
Alice Springs come under the "Prescribed areas laws"?
No. If, and/or when, they are handed back to their traditional owners under the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act, then they will be prescribed. This website is a useful tool.
http://facs.gov.au/nter/legis_areas_natparks.htm
If a park isnt listed as a "prescribed area on the web site but is Aboriginal owned, does it then fall under the "Prescribed areas laws" as all aboriginal land does?
This is a little difficult to answer, however all land that is either freehold land held by a Land Trust under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 , other Aboriginal communities described as Northern Territory Community Living Areas, Aboriginal living areas described as ‘town camps’, and other areas declared by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community
Services & Indigenous Affairs, is prescribed. In short, if it is not listed and is not sign posted, I would say it is not prescribed.
If the parks I mentioned are not in the "Prescribed area" does this mean I can transport alcohol in my vehicle to our
campsite, as I would technically be traveling to a destination through the "Prescribed area"?
Yes. Section 86 of the Liquor Act allows you to transport unopened containers of alcohol through a prescribed area, for the purpose of taking it to a destination outside the prescribed area.
Are
Birthday Waterhole. Hugh George and Reedy
waterhole classed as "Prescribed areas"
Sorry Sean, I'm reasonably new to the NT and am not 100% sure where these
places are. Can you please give me a bit more information and I will sort it out for you.
Scenario 1. If a tourist was to spend the week travelling the Western Macs,staying a night at each
campsite and wanted to move from one
campsite to another ( down the road) with an opened bottle of wine or brandy or something in the fridge,would they be breaking the law and be liable for a fine and all other unopened alcohol confiscated?
If it involves bringing an opened container into a prescribed area, yes. They also risk having their vehicle seized.
Sean, I hope this has answered your questions satisfactorily. If you could provide a little more information on the locations of the waterholes, I'm sure I'll be able to answer your queries.
So....In short you are allowed to take unopened grog into the Western Macs if you can prove you are going into one of the National Park campgrounds. Just dont leave with anything opened.
Also keep an eye on weather or not the park has been handed back to aborigial ownership yet before going.
Cheers
Hairy