{"id":"alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017","name":"Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017","slug":"alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29849,"registerId":"nt-alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nALCOHOL HARM REDUCTION ACT 2017\nAs in force at 15 December 2025\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Object .............................................................................................. 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n5 Family member ................................................................................ 4\n5A Alcohol-related protective custody ................................................... 4\n6 Application of Criminal Code ........................................................... 5\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 1 BDO\n7 What is a BDO ................................................................................. 5\n8 Notice of BDO.................................................................................. 6\n9 Registering BDO.............................................................................. 6\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\n9A Making 28 day police BDO .............................................................. 6\n9B Consequence of contravention of 28 day police BDO ..................... 7\n9C 28 day police BDO ceases to be in force ......................................... 7\n10 Making first police BDO ................................................................... 7\n11 Period of BDO ................................................................................. 8\n12 Court orders relating to BDO ........................................................... 8\n13 Consequence of contravention of first or second police BDO.......... 9\n13A First police BDO taken to have been made ..................................... 9\nDivision 3 BDO made by BDR Registrar – self-application\n14 Self-application for BDO ................................................................ 10\n15 Making BDO .................................................................................. 10\n16 Period of BDO ............................................................................... 11\n17 Revocation of BDO ........................................................................ 11\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by\nothers\n18 Application for BDO ....................................................................... 11\n19 Referral for assessment................................................................. 12\n\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 ii\n20 Assessment ................................................................................... 12\n21 Making BDO .................................................................................. 13\n22 Period of BDO ............................................................................... 13\n23 Extension of BDO by BDR Registrar ............................................. 13\n24 Extension of BDO by police ........................................................... 14\nDivision 5 General provisions for BDOs\n25 Variation or revocation of BDO by BDR Registrar ......................... 15\n25A Variation or revocation of BDO by police ....................................... 16\n26 Assessment of adults for treatment ............................................... 16\nPart 3 Income Management\n27 Income management order may be made ..................................... 17\n28 Period of income management order ............................................ 17\n29 Variation and revocation of income management order ................ 18\n30 Notice to Secretary ........................................................................ 18\nPart 4 Review by Tribunal\n31 Definitions ...................................................................................... 18\n32 Review by Tribunal ........................................................................ 18\n33 Reasons may be given orally......................................................... 19\n34 No fees .......................................................................................... 19\nPart 5 Administration\nDivision 1 BDR Registrar\n35 BDR Registrar ............................................................................... 19\n36 Functions and powers ................................................................... 19\n37 Delegation ..................................................................................... 20\n38 Record keeping ............................................................................. 20\nDivision 2 Information sharing\n39 Sharing information ....................................................................... 20\n40 Restriction on use or disclosure of information .............................. 21\n41 Interaction with other laws ............................................................. 21\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\n42 Offence to supply alcohol to persons subject to prohibition ........... 21\n42A Identification of person .................................................................. 22\n43 Police power to require breath test ................................................ 22\n44 Protection from liability .................................................................. 22\n45 Regulations.................................................................................... 23\n\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 iii\nPart 7 Repeals and transitional matters for\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017\nDivision 1 Repeals\n46 Acts repealed................................................................................. 23\nDivision 2 Transitional matters\n47 Definitions ...................................................................................... 23\n48 Alcohol protection orders become BDOs ....................................... 24\nPart 8 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm\nReduction Amendment Act 2023\n49 Definitions ...................................................................................... 24\n50 BDOs made before commencement ............................................. 24\n51 Reviews commenced before commencement ............................... 24\n52 Applications commenced before commencement ......................... 25\n53 Making BDOs – before and after commencement ......................... 25\n54 Offences – before and after commencement................................. 25\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm\nReduction Amendment (Banned Drinker\nOrders) Act 2025\n55 7 day police BDOs made before commencement ......................... 26\nSchedule 1 Reviewable decisions\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 15 December 2025\n____________________\nALCOHOL HARM REDUCTION ACT 2017\nAn Act to reduce the misuse of alcohol and the resulting harm by\nproviding a framework for registering adults on the banned drinker\nregister, to repeal the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 and\nAlcohol Protection Orders Act 2013, and for related purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on the day fixed by the Administrator by\nGazette notice.\n3 Object\nThe object of this Act is to reduce the harm associated with the\nmisuse of alcohol and improve the health, safety and wellbeing of\npeople in the Territory by providing a legislative framework for:\n(a) making banned drinker orders to enable adults to be\nregistered on the banned drinker register; and\n(b) preventing the misuse of alcohol; and\n(c) protecting people who are misusing alcohol from severe or\nserious harm because of the misuse; and\n(d) protecting people, particularly children, from harm or nuisance\nresulting from the misuse of alcohol by others.\n4 Definitions\nIn this Act:\n28 day police BDO means a BDO made under section 9A or 9B.\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 2\nadministrative error includes an error that results in a person\nbeing incorrectly identified.\nalcohol means liquor as defined in section 4(1) of the Liquor\nAct 2019.\nalcohol-related infringement notice means an infringement\nnotice in relation to an offence against any of the following:\n(a) section 143(2), 144(2), 171A(1), 173(1), 183(1), 189(1),\n218(1), 224(1) or 228(2) of the Liquor Act 2019;\n(b) section 25(3) or 26(1) of the Traffic Act 1987;\n(c) section 47 or 53(1)(a) or (7) of the Summary Offences\nAct 1923, if the police officer giving the infringement notice\nbelieves on reasonable grounds that the alleged offender is, at\nthat time, affected by alcohol;\n(d) a provision prescribed by regulation.\nalcohol-related offence means any of the following:\n(a) an offence for which the maximum penalty is imprisonment for\na term of at least 6 months, if a police officer believes on\nreasonable grounds that the alleged offender was affected by\nalcohol during the commission of the offence;\n(b) an immediate suspension offence as defined in section 19(1)\nof the Traffic Act 1987 that involves alcohol;\n(c) an offence against section 42(1);\n(d) another offence that involves alcohol (for example, stealing\nalcohol);\n(e) an offence prescribed by regulation.\nalcohol-related protective custody, see section 5A.\nbanned adult means an adult who is subject to a BDO.\nbanned drinker register means the register of persons who are\nbanned for the purposes of the identification system established\nunder section 128 of the Liquor Act 2019.\nBDO, see section 7.\nBDR Registrar, see section 35.\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 3\ncharged, in relation to an alcohol-related offence, includes being\ncharged at a police station.\nchild protection worker means a person appointed as an\nauthorised officer under section 304(1)(a) of the Care and\nProtection of Children Act 2007.\nclinician means:\n(a) a medical practitioner; or\n(b) a nurse; or\n(c) a person employed in the Agency as an alcohol or other drugs\nclinician; or\n(d) a person prescribed by regulation.\nfamily member, see section 5.\nfirst police BDO means a BDO made under section 10.\nincome management means the income management regime\nunder Part 3B of the Social Security Administration Act.\nincome management order means an order under section 27.\ninformation sharing authority means:\n(a) a public sector employee who is acting under a law of the\nTerritory in relation to a banned adult; or\n(b) a licensee as defined in section 4(1) of the Liquor Act 2019; or\n(c) a legal representative of a banned adult; or\n(d) a person or body prescribed by regulation.\nnurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law to practise in the nursing profession (other\nthan as a student).\npolice DVO, see section 28(1) of the Domestic and Family\nViolence Act 2007.\nproceedings, see section 31.\npublication, see section 31.\nsecond police BDO means a BDO made under section 13(1).\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 4\nSecretary means the Secretary under the Social Security\nAdministration Act.\nSocial Security Administration Act means the Social Security\n(Administration) Act 1999 (Cth).\nsubsequent police BDO means a BDO made under section 13(2)\nor (3).\nTribunal means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.\nTribunal Act means the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative\nTribunal Act 2014.\nNote for section 4\nThe Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be\nrelevant to this Act.\n5 Family member\n(1) A family member of an adult is:\n(a) the spouse or de facto partner of the adult; or\n(b) any other relative of the adult.\n(2) A relative of the adult includes a person who is related to the adult\nin accordance with customary law or tradition (including Aboriginal\ncustomary law or tradition).\nNotes for section 5\n1 A relative of an adult may include (for example) a parent, step-parent,\ngrandparent, aunt, nephew, cousin, half-brother, mother-in-law or aunt-in-law.\n2 Section 19A of the Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions of certain\ndomestic relationships, including spouse and de facto partner.\n5A Alcohol-related protective custody\nAn adult is taken into alcohol-related protective custody:\n(a) if the adult is apprehended and taken into custody under\nsection 128 of the Police Administration Act 1978; or\n(b) in other circumstances prescribed by regulation.\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 1 BDO\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 5\n6 Application of Criminal Code\nPart IIAA of the Criminal Code applies to an offence against this\nAct.\nNote for section 6\nPart IIAA of the Criminal Code states the general principles of criminal\nresponsibility, establishes general defences, and deals with burden of proof. It\nalso defines, or elaborates on, certain concepts commonly used in the creation of\noffences.\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 1 BDO\n7 What is a BDO\nA BDO is a banned drinker order, in the form approved by the\nBDR Registrar, that states the following:\n(a) the name of the adult who is subject to the order;\n(b) that the adult is prohibited from purchasing, possessing or\nconsuming alcohol during the period for which the order is in\nforce;\n(c) the reason why the order has been made;\n(d) for a BDO made by a police officer – the name, rank and place\nof duty of the police officer, and the date and time it is made;\n(e) that the order comes into force when it is registered,\nregardless of whether the adult actually receives a copy of the\norder;\n(f) the period for which the order remains in force;\n(g) the consequences of a contravention of the order and a\ndescription of what constitutes a contravention;\n(h) any entitlement of the adult to apply to the Tribunal for review\nof the decision to make the order;\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 6\n(i) that the adult may apply to the BDR Registrar for referral for\nassessment, which may result in reduction of the period of the\nBDO.\nNote for section 7\nA BDO may be made in various ways:\n(a) a police officer may make a BDO under section 10;\n(b) a second or subsequent police BDO may be made under section 13;\n(c) the BDR Registrar may make a BDO under Division 3 or 4.\n8 Notice of BDO\n(1) A person who makes a BDO must take all reasonable steps to give\nparticulars of the BDO to the adult for whom it is made as soon as\npracticable after making it.\n(2) For subsection (1), particulars of a BDO may be given to the adult\nfor whom it is made by:\n(a) informing the adult, verbally or in writing, of the making and\nterms of the BDO; or\n(b) providing the person with a physical or electronic copy of the\nBDO.\n9 Registering BDO\n(1) The Commissioner of Police must ensure that a BDO made by a\npolice officer is registered.\n(2) The BDR Registrar must ensure that a BDO made by the\nBDR Registrar is registered.\n(3) A BDO is registered, and comes into force, when the name of the\nadult for whom it is made, and other relevant details, are entered on\nthe banned drinker register.\n(4) Subsection (3) applies regardless of whether the adult for whom the\nBDO is made receives a copy of the BDO.\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\n9A Making 28 day police BDO\n(1) A police officer must make a BDO for an adult if:\n(a) the adult is taken into alcohol-related protective custody; or\n(b) the adult is given an alcohol-related infringement notice; or\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 7\n(c) the adult is found to be in contravention of section 171(1) of\nthe Liquor Act 2019; or\n(d) the adult is issued with a banning notice under section 212 of\nthe Liquor Act 2019.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an adult if:\n(a) the adult is already subject to a BDO made under this Division\nor Division 4; or\n(b) the occurrence mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (d) results in\nthe making of a first police BDO.\n9B Consequence of contravention of 28 day police BDO\n(1) If a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that a banned\nadult has contravened a 28 day police BDO:\n(a) the police officer must make another 28 day police BDO for\nthe adult; and\n(b) the first 28 day police BDO ceases to be in force.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a banned adult if the\ncontravention results in the making of a first police BDO.\n9C 28 day police BDO ceases to be in force\nIf a first police BDO or a BDO under Division 4 is made for an adult\nwho is subject to a 28 day police BDO, the 28 day police BDO\nceases to be in force.\n10 Making first police BDO\n(1) A police officer must make a BDO for an adult if:\n(a) the adult is, in relation to an alcohol-related offence:\n(i) arrested and charged; or\n(ii) summoned as a defendant; or\n(iii) served with a notice to appear before a court as a\ndefendant; or\n(b) the adult is named as the defendant in a police DVO, if the\npolice officer who makes the DVO believes on reasonable\ngrounds that the defendant was affected by alcohol at the time\nof engaging in the conduct to which the DVO relates; or\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 8\n(c) any of the following events, in any combination, occur in\nrelation to the adult 3 times:\n(i) the adult is taken into alcohol-related protective custody;\n(ii) the adult is given an alcohol-related infringement notice;\n(iii) the adult is found to be in contravention of section 171(1)\nof the Liquor Act 2019;\n(iv) the adult is issued with a banning notice under\nsection 212 of the Liquor Act 2019.\nExamples for subsection (1)(c)\n1 An adult is taken into alcohol-related protective custody for a third time.\n2 An adult who has previously been issued with 2 alcohol-related infringement\nnotices is taken into alcohol-related protective custody.\n3 An adult who has previously been issued with a banning notice under\nsection 212 of the Liquor Act 2019 and has previously been taken into\nalcohol-related protective custody is found to be in contravention of\nsection 171(1) of the Liquor Act 2019.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an adult who is already\nsubject to a first, second or subsequent police BDO or a BDO made\nunder Division 4.\n11 Period of BDO\n(1AA) A 28 day police BDO remains in force for a period of 28 days.\n(1) A first police BDO remains in force for a period of 3 months.\n(2) A second police BDO remains in force for a period of 6 months.\n(3) A subsequent police BDO remains in force for a period of\n12 months.\n(4) This section is subject to sections 9B, 9C, 12, 13, 25 and 25A.\n12 Court orders relating to BDO\n(1) A court may make the orders it considers appropriate in relation to\na BDO in force under this Division or extended under section 24 for\na banned adult appearing in the court in relation to the matter that\nled to a police officer making or extending the BDO for the adult.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the orders may include any of the\nfollowing:\n(a) the BDO continues in force for a stated period;\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 2 BDO made by police officer\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 9\n(b) the BDO is varied as stated;\n(c) the BDO is revoked and the adult is subject to conditions\nrelating to:\n(i) the adult's purchase, possession or consumption of\nalcohol, as stated by the court; and\n(ii) any other matter the court considers appropriate for the\nadult (for example, the assessment or treatment of the\nadult for alcohol misuse);\n(d) the BDO is revoked.\n13 Consequence of contravention of first or second police BDO\n(1) If a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that a banned\nadult has contravened a first police BDO:\n(a) the police officer must make a second police BDO for the\nadult; and\n(b) the first police BDO ceases to be in force.\n(2) If a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that a banned\nadult has contravened a second police BDO:\n(a) the police officer must make a subsequent police BDO for the\nadult; and\n(b) the second police BDO ceases to be in force.\n(3) If a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that a banned\nadult has contravened a subsequent police BDO:\n(a) the police officer must make a further subsequent police BDO\nfor the adult; and\n(b) the previous BDO ceases to be in force.\n13A First police BDO taken to have been made\n(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an adult if:\n(a) a BDO was made under Division 4 for the adult; and\n(b) the BDO was extended by a police officer under section 24;\nand\n(c) the BDO is revoked within 3 months of the extension\nmentioned in paragraph (b) being made; and\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 3 BDO made by BDR Registrar – self-application\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 10\n(d) if the BDO made under Division 4 had not been in force on the\nday the extension was made, a first police BDO would have\nbeen made for the adult instead.\n(2) A first police BDO is taken to have been made for the adult on the\nday of the extension.\nExample for section 13A\nIf a BDO was made for an adult under Division 4 on 1 January, extended by\npolice under section 24 on 1 February and then revoked on 1 March, the adult is\ntaken to be subject to a first police BDO until 30 April, as if it was made on\n1 February.\nDivision 3 BDO made by BDR Registrar – self-application\n14 Self-application for BDO\n(1) An adult who is not a banned adult may apply for a BDO to be\nmade for themselves.\n(2) The application:\n(a) must be lodged:\n(i) with the BDR Registrar; or\n(ii) at a police station; or\n(iii) at a location, or by a method, prescribed by regulation;\nand\n(b) may contain a request that the BDO be in force for a period of\n3, 6 or 12 months.\n(3) An application lodged under subsection (2)(a)(ii) or (iii) must be\nforwarded to the BDR Registrar as soon as practicable.\n15 Making BDO\nWithin 2 business days after receiving an application under\nsection 14, the BDR Registrar must make a BDO for the applicant if\nsatisfied as to the applicant's identity and that the applicant:\n(a) is not already a banned adult; and\n(b) consents to the terms of the BDO.\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by others\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 11\n16 Period of BDO\n(1) In making a BDO under section 15, the BDR Registrar must:\n(a) take into account any request of the applicant under\nsection 14(2)(b); and\n(b) decide whether the BDO will be in force for a period of 3, 6 or\n12 months; and\n(c) specify the period in the BDO.\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), the BDO remains in force for the period\nspecified in it unless it is revoked earlier under section 17.\n(3) If a first police BDO is made for an adult who is subject to a BDO\nunder this Division, the BDO under this Division ceases to be in\nforce.\n17 Revocation of BDO\n(1) An adult who is subject to a BDO made under this Division may\nrequest that the BDO be revoked.\n(2) The request must be lodged:\n(a) with the BDR Registrar; or\n(b) at a police station; or\n(c) at a location, or by a method, prescribed by regulation.\n(3) As soon as practicable after the request is made, the BDR\nRegistrar must revoke the BDO and take all reasonable steps to\ngive the adult written notice that it has been revoked.\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by\nothers\n18 Application for BDO\n(1) Any of the following may apply to the BDR Registrar for the making\nof a BDO under this Division for an adult:\n(a) a police officer;\n(b) a child protection worker;\n(c) a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (other than as a student);\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by others\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 12\n(d) a family member of the adult;\n(e) a guardian or carer of the adult;\n(f) the Public Guardian;\n(g) a person prescribed by regulation.\n(2) An application must be in the form, contain the information, and be\nmade in the manner specified by the BDR Registrar.\n19 Referral for assessment\n(1) If an application is made by a person mentioned in section 18(1)(d)\nto (f), the BDR Registrar must refer the adult to whom the\napplication relates for assessment under section 20.\n(2) If an application is made by another person mentioned in\nsection 18(1), the BDR Registrar may refer the adult to whom the\napplication relates for assessment under section 20.\n20 Assessment\n(1) If, under section 19, an adult is referred by the BDR Registrar for\nassessment, a clinician must take all reasonable steps to assess\nthe adult for section 21.\n(2) An assessment may be made in person or on the basis of\ninformation provided or otherwise available to the clinician.\n(3) Following the assessment, the clinician must make a report of the\nassessment to the BDR Registrar, containing the following:\n(a) a recommendation as to whether a BDO should be made for\nthe adult;\n(b) a recommendation as to any appropriate therapeutic support\nprogram for the adult.\n(4) If, despite taking all reasonable steps, the clinician is unable to\nassess the adult within a reasonable time:\n(a) the clinician must notify the BDR Registrar accordingly; and\n(b) the application to which the referral for assessment relates\nlapses.\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by others\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 13\n21 Making BDO\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the BDR Registrar may make a BDO\nunder this Division for an adult if satisfied as to the adult's identity\nand that:\n(a) the adult is misusing or has misused alcohol; and\n(b) the adult's misuse of alcohol is a risk to the health, safety or\nwellbeing of the adult or any other person.\n(2) If the adult has been assessed under section 20, the BDR Registrar\nmust consider the clinician's report of the assessment under\nsection 20(3) in deciding whether to make a BDO.\n(3) The BDR Registrar cannot make a BDO under this Division on the\napplication of a person mentioned in section 18(1)(d) to (f) unless:\n(a) the adult for whom the BDO is proposed to be made has been\nassessed under section 20; and\n(b) the BDR Registrar has received a report on the assessment\nunder section 20(3).\n22 Period of BDO\n(1) In making a BDO under this Division, the BDR Registrar must:\n(a) decide whether the BDO will be in force for a period of 3, 6 or\n12 months; and\n(b) specify the period in the BDO.\n(2) If an adult has been assessed under section 20, the BDR Registrar\nmust consider the clinician's report of the assessment under\nsection 20(3) in deciding the period of the BDO.\n(3) The BDO remains in force for the period specified in it unless it is:\n(a) revoked earlier under section 25; or\n(b) extended under section 23 or 24.\n23 Extension of BDO by BDR Registrar\n(1) The BDR Registrar may extend a BDO made under this Division if\nthe BDR Registrar believes on reasonable grounds that:\n(a) the banned adult has contravened the BDO; or\n(b) the grounds for making the BDO continue to apply.\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 4 BDO made by BDR Registrar – application by others\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 14\n(2) The extension is to be in accordance with the following:\n(a) a BDO for a period of 3 months may be extended to a period\nof 6 months;\n(b) a BDO for a period of 6 months may be extended to a period\nof 12 months;\n(c) a BDO for a period of 12 months may be extended for a\nfurther period of 12 months.\nExamples for subsection (2)\n1 A BDO that is for a period of 3 months commencing on 1 January and ending\non 31 March may be extended to end on 30 June.\n2 A BDO that is for a period of 6 months commencing on 1 January and ending\non 30 June may be extended to end on 31 December.\n3 A BDO that is for a period of 12 months commencing on 1 January and\nending on 31 December that is contravened on 30 June may be extended to\nend on 30 June the following year.\n(3) The BDR Registrar must take all reasonable steps to give the\nbanned adult particulars of an extension of the BDO under this\nsection.\n(4) An extension under this section may be made on the application of\na person mentioned in section 18(1) or on the BDR Registrar's own\ninitiative.\n24 Extension of BDO by police\n(1) A police officer must extend a BDO made under this Division if any\nof the following occurs in relation to the banned adult:\n(a) the adult is, in relation to an alcohol-related offence:\n(i) arrested and charged; or\n(ii) summoned as a defendant; or\n(iii) served with a notice to appear before a court as a\ndefendant;\n(b) the adult is named as the defendant in a police DVO, if the\npolice officer who makes the DVO believes on reasonable\ngrounds that the defendant was affected by alcohol at the time\nof engaging in the conduct to which the DVO relates;\n(c) the adult is taken into alcohol-related protective custody;\n(d) the adult is given an alcohol-related infringement notice;\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 5 General provisions for BDOs\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 15\n(e) the adult is found to be in contravention section 171(1) of the\nLiquor Act 2019;\n(f) the adult is issued with a banning notice under section 212 of\nthe Liquor Act 2019.\n(2) The extension is to be in accordance with the following:\n(a) a BDO for a period of 3 months may be extended to a period\nof 6 months;\n(b) a BDO for a period of 6 months may be extended to a period\nof 12 months;\n(c) a BDO for a period of 12 months may be extended for a\nfurther period of 12 months from the date of the event\nmentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (f).\nExamples for subsection (2)\n1 A BDO that is for a period of 3 months commencing on 1 January and ending\non 31 March would be extended to end on 30 June.\n2 A BDO that is for a period of 6 months commencing on 1 January and ending\non 30 June would be extended to end on 31 December.\n3 If an adult is subject to a BDO that is for a period of 12 months commencing\non 1 January and ending on 31 December, and an event mentioned in\nsubsection (1)(a) to (f) occurs on 30 June, the BDO would be extended to\nend on 30 June the following year.\n(3) The police officer must take all reasonable steps to give the banned\nadult particulars of an extension of the BDO under this section.\nDivision 5 General provisions for BDOs\n25 Variation or revocation of BDO by BDR Registrar\n(1) Subject to any order made under section 12, the BDR Registrar\nmay vary or revoke a BDO if satisfied:\n(a) that the banned adult has participated in and completed a\ntherapeutic support program; or\n(b) for a BDO made under Division 3 or 4 – that the variation or\nrevocation is required because of an administrative error.\n(2) A variation or revocation may be made on the application of the\nbanned adult or on the BDR Registrar's own initiative.\nNote for section 25\nIf a BDO made under Division 4 and extended under section 24 is revoked, the\nextension may be taken to be a first police BDO – see section 13A.\n\nPart 2 Banned drinker orders (BDOs)\nDivision 5 General provisions for BDOs\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 16\n25A Variation or revocation of BDO by police\n(1) Subject to any order made under section 12, a police officer may\nvary or revoke a BDO made under Division 2 if satisfied:\n(a) that the variation or revocation is required because of an\nadministrative error; or\n(b) for a BDO made under section 10(1)(a):\n(i) that the charge was withdrawn, dismissed or not\nproceeded with; or\n(ii) that the banned adult was found not guilty of the offence;\nor\n(c) for a BDO made under section 10(1)(b) – that the police DVO\nwas revoked; or\n(d) that the variation or revocation is otherwise appropriate in the\ncircumstances.\n(2) Subject to any order made under section 12, a police officer may\nvary or revoke an extension of a BDO made under section 24 if\nsatisfied:\n(a) that the variation or revocation is required because of an\nadministrative error; or\n(b) for an extension made under section 24(1)(a):\n(i) that the charge was withdrawn, dismissed or not\nproceeded with; or\n(ii) that the banned adult was found not guilty of the offence;\nor\n(c) for an extension made under section 24(1)(b) – that the police\nDVO was revoked; or\n(d) that the variation or revocation is otherwise appropriate in the\ncircumstances.\n(3) A variation or revocation may be made on the application of the\nbanned adult or on the police officer's own initiative.\n26 Assessment of adults for treatment\n(1) On application by a banned adult, the BDR Registrar may refer the\nadult to a clinician for assessment for treatment.\n\nPart 3 Income Management\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 17\n(2) A clinician must take all reasonable steps to assess:\n(a) an adult who is referred under subsection (1) by the BDR\nRegistrar for assessment; or\n(b) an adult who is subject to an order under section 12(2)(c)(ii)\nfor assessment or treatment.\n(3) An assessment may be made in person or on the basis of\ninformation provided or otherwise available to the clinician.\n(4) Following the assessment, the clinician must make a report of the\nassessment to the BDR Registrar, containing a recommendation as\nto any appropriate therapeutic support program for the adult.\nPart 3 Income Management\n27 Income management order may be made\nThe BDR Registrar may make an order that an adult is required to\nbe subject to income management, if the BDR Registrar is satisfied\nthat:\n(a) either:\n(i) a BDO is in force for the adult for a period of 12 months;\nor\n(ii) a BDO will be in force for the adult for a period of\n12 months when the income management order comes\ninto force; and\n(b) the adult would benefit from the making of an income\nmanagement order; and\n(c) the adult, or the adult's partner, is an eligible recipient of a\ncategory H welfare payment under Part 3B of the Social\nSecurity Administration Act.\n28 Period of income management order\nAn income management order:\n(a) comes into force when it is made or when a BDO for the adult\ncomes into force, whichever is later; and\n(b) remains in force for a period of 12 months.\n\nPart 4 Review by Tribunal\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 18\n29 Variation and revocation of income management order\n(1) An adult who is subject to income management may apply to the\nBDR Registrar for variation or revocation of an income\nmanagement order.\n(2) On application:\n(a) the BDR Registrar may vary the income management order if\nsatisfied that it is appropriate to do so having regard to the\ncriteria for making the order; or\n(b) the BDR Registrar may revoke the income management order\nif satisfied that the adult no longer meets the criteria for\nmaking the order; or\n(c) the BDR Registrar may refuse to vary or revoke the order.\n30 Notice to Secretary\nIf the BDR Registrar makes, varies or revokes an income\nmanagement order, the BDR Registrar must notify the Secretary\nand give the Secretary a copy of the order, variation or revocation.\nPart 4 Review by Tribunal\n31 Definitions\nIn this Part:\nproceedings means proceedings in the Tribunal in relation to a\nmatter under this Act.\npublication includes broadcast and dissemination.\n32 Review by Tribunal\n(1) The Tribunal has jurisdiction to review a decision (a reviewable\ndecision) specified in Schedule 1.\n(2) An affected person, for a reviewable decision, is a person\nspecified in Schedule 1 for the decision.\n(3) An affected person for a reviewable decision may apply to the\nTribunal for review of the decision.\nNote for section 32\nThe Tribunal Act sets out the procedure for applying to the Tribunal for review\nand other relevant matters in relation to reviews.\n\nPart 5 Administration\nDivision 1 BDR Registrar\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 19\n33 Reasons may be given orally\n(1) Despite section 105(2) of the Tribunal Act, the Tribunal may give\nthe reasons for the decision in any proceedings and any relevant\nfindings of fact (the reasons) orally to the parties to the\nproceedings.\n(2) A party to the proceedings may apply to the Tribunal to give the\nreasons in writing, and the Tribunal must do so within 28 days after\nthe application is made.\n(3) A party to the proceedings who proposes to make an application\nunder subsection (2) must do so within 28 days after the reasons\nare given orally.\n(4) Section 105(4) of the Tribunal Act applies to the time limit\nmentioned in subsection (2).\n34 No fees\nNo application fees or other fees are payable in relation to\nproceedings.\nPart 5 Administration\nDivision 1 BDR Registrar\n35 BDR Registrar\n(1) The BDR Registrar is:\n(a) the Chief Executive Officer; or\n(b) the person appointed under subsection (2).\n(2) The Chief Executive Officer may appoint a public sector employee\nto be the BDR Registrar, if the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied\nthat the employee is suitably qualified for appointment.\n36 Functions and powers\n(1) The BDR Registrar has the functions conferred on the BDR\nRegistrar under this or another Act.\n(2) The BDR Registrar may do all things necessary or convenient to be\ndone for, or in relation to, the performance of the BDR Registrar's\nfunctions.\n\nPart 5 Administration\nDivision 2 Information sharing\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 20\n37 Delegation\nThe BDR Registrar may delegate any of the BDR Registrar's\npowers and functions under this Act to a public sector employee.\n38 Record keeping\n(1) The BDR Registrar must keep the records in relation to the\nperformance of the BDR Registrar's functions that are reasonable in\nthe circumstances.\nNote for subsection (1)\nSee Part 9 of the Information Act 2002 for further requirements for record\nkeeping.\n(2) Without limiting what records must be kept, records must include\nthe following:\n(a) the number of applications made to the BDR Registrar for a\nBDO;\n(b) the number of BDOs made by the BDR Registrar;\n(c) the number of variations and revocations of BDOs made by\nthe BDR Registrar.\nDivision 2 Information sharing\n39 Sharing information\n(1) A person who applies to the BDR Registrar for a BDO under Part 2,\nDivision 4 may give the BDR Registrar any information about the\nadult to whom the application relates.\n(2) A police officer or the BDR Registrar may give an information\nsharing authority any information about a BDO that is in force.\n(3) The police officer or BDR Registrar may do so only if:\n(a) the police officer or BDR Registrar specifies the BDO when\ngiving the information; and\n(b) the police officer or BDR Registrar believes on reasonable\ngrounds that the information would:\n(i) assist the information sharing authority to provide a\nservice to, or perform a function relating to, the adult\nwho is subject to the BDO; and\n\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 21\n(ii) ensure the effective and efficient enforcement of the\nBDO.\n40 Restriction on use or disclosure of information\n(1) Subject to this section, an information sharing authority given\ninformation under this Division must not use or disclose the\ninformation for any purpose other than the one for which it was\ngiven.\n(2) An information sharing authority given information under this\nDivision may disclose the information:\n(a) in a statistical form that does not identify the person to whom\nthe information relates; or\n(b) for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the\nadministration of this Act; or\n(c) if authorised or required by another law in force in the\nTerritory.\n41 Interaction with other laws\nThis Division has effect despite the operation of any other law of the\nTerritory that prohibits or restricts the disclosure of information.\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\n42 Offence to supply alcohol to persons subject to prohibition\n(1) A person commits an offence if:\n(a) the person intentionally supplies a substance to another\nperson; and\n(b) the substance is alcohol and the person has knowledge of that\ncircumstance; and\n(c) the other person is subject to a prohibition mentioned in\nsection 128(1) of the Liquor Act 2019 and the person has\nknowledge, or ought reasonably to have knowledge, of that\ncircumstance.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units.\n\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 22\n(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against\nsubsection (1) if the defendant establishes that the defendant is:\n(a) a licensee or a licensee's employee who used the\nidentification system in accordance with the Liquor Act 2019\nwhich did not identify the other person as being subject to the\nprohibition; or\n(b) a protected person as defined in section 4 of the Domestic\nand Family Violence Act 2007.\n(3) A person who is found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) is\nprohibited from purchasing alcohol for a period of 12 months\nstarting on the day the person is found guilty.\n42A Identification of person\nFor the purposes of making or extending a BDO for an adult, a\npolice officer may take reasonable measures to verify the adult's\nidentity.\n43 Police power to require breath test\n(1) A police officer may require an adult to submit to a breath test to\ndetermine whether there is alcohol in the adult's breath, if:\n(a) the adult is in a public place; and\n(b) the police officer believes on reasonable grounds that the\nadult:\n(i) is a banned adult; and\n(ii) has been consuming alcohol in contravention of the\nadult's BDO.\n(2) In this section:\nbreath test, see section 3(1) of the Traffic Act 1987.\n44 Protection from liability\n(1) A person is not civilly or criminally liable for an act done or omitted\nto be done by the person in good faith in the exercise of a power or\nperformance of a function as any of the following:\n(a) the BDR Registrar;\n(b) a clinician.\n\nPart 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017\nDivision 2 Transitional matters\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 23\n(2) Subsection (1) does not affect any liability the Territory would, apart\nfrom that subsection, have for the act or omission.\n(3) In this section:\nexercise, of a power, includes the purported exercise of the power.\nperformance, of a function, includes the purported performance of\nthe function.\n45 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations under this Act.\nPart 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Alcohol\nHarm Reduction Act 2017\nDivision 1 Repeals\n46 Acts repealed\nThe following Acts are repealed:\n(a) Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (Act No. 17 of 2013);\n(b) Alcohol Protection Orders Act 2013 (Act No. 31 of 2013).\nDivision 2 Transitional matters\n47 Definitions\nIn this Division:\nAPO Act means the Alcohol Protection Orders Act 2013 as in force\nimmediately before its repeal.\ncommencement means the commencement of section 46(b).\nfirst alcohol protection order, see section 7(3) of the APO Act.\nlater alcohol protection order, see section 7(3) of the APO Act.\nsecond alcohol protection order, see section 7(3) of the\nAPO Act.\n\nPart 8 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment Act 2023\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 24\n48 Alcohol protection orders become BDOs\n(1) A first alcohol protection order in force immediately before the\ncommencement is taken, on and after the commencement, to be a\nfirst police BDO for the remaining period for which it would have\nbeen in force if the APO Act had not been repealed.\n(2) A second alcohol protection order in force immediately before the\ncommencement is taken, on and after the commencement, to be a\nsecond police BDO for the remaining period for which it would have\nbeen in force if the APO Act had not been repealed.\n(3) A later alcohol protection order in force immediately before the\ncommencement is taken, on and after the commencement, to be a\nsubsequent police BDO for the remaining period for which it would\nhave been in force if the APO Act had not been repealed.\nPart 8 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm\nReduction Amendment Act 2023\n49 Definitions\nIn this Part:\namending Act means the Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment\nAct 2023.\ncommencement means the commencement of the amending Act.\n50 BDOs made before commencement\n(1) A BDO that is in force immediately before the commencement\ncontinues in force, according to its terms, after the commencement.\n(2) Subject to this Part, this Act as amended by the amending Act\napplies in relation to a BDO mentioned in subsection (1).\n51 Reviews commenced before commencement\n(1) This section applies in relation to a review if, before the\ncommencement:\n(a) an affected person applied to the Tribunal for review under\nsection 32; and\n(b) the review had not been finalised.\n(2) The Tribunal must continue to deal with the review as if the\namending Act had not commenced.\n\nPart 8 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment Act 2023\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 25\n52 Applications commenced before commencement\n(1) This section applies in relation to an application for variation or\nrevocation if, before the commencement:\n(a) a banned adult applied to the BDR Registrar for variation or\nrevocation under section 25; and\n(b) the application had not been finalised.\n(2) The BDR Registrar must continue to deal with the application as if\nthe amending Act had not commenced.\n53 Making BDOs – before and after commencement\n(1) Section 9A, as inserted by the amending Act, applies only in\nrelation to events occurring after the commencement.\n(2) Sections 10 and 24, as amended by the amending Act, apply only\nin relation to events occurring after the commencement.\n(3) Sections 10 and 24, as in force before the commencement,\ncontinue to apply in relation to events occurring before the\ncommencement.\n(4) For this section, if any part of an event occurs before the\ncommencement, the event is taken to have occurred before the\ncommencement.\n54 Offences – before and after commencement\n(1) Section 42, as amended by the amending Act, applies only in\nrelation to offences committed after the commencement.\n(2) Section 42, as in force before the commencement, continues to\napply in relation to offences committed before the commencement.\n(3) For this section, if any of the conduct constituting an offence\noccurred before the commencement, the offence is taken to have\nbeen committed before the commencement.\n\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment (Banned\nDrinker Orders) Act 2025\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 26\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Alcohol Harm\nReduction Amendment (Banned Drinker\nOrders) Act 2025\n55 7 day police BDOs made before commencement\n(1) This section applies in relation to a 7 day police BDO that is in force\nimmediately before the commencement.\n(2) The BDO continues in force for the period for which it was made.\n(3) Sections 9B and 9C, as amended by the amending Act, apply in\nrelation to the BDO as if the BDO were a 28 day police BDO.\nExample for subsection (3)\nIf, after the commencement, a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that\nan adult who is subject to a 7 day police BDO has contravened the BDO, the\npolice officer must make a 28 day police BDO under section 9B(1)(a), subject to\nsection 9B(2).\n(4) In this section:\namending Act means the Alcohol Harm Reduction Amendment\n(Banned Drinker Orders) Act 2025.\ncommencement means the commencement of the amending Act.\n\nSchedule 1 Reviewable decisions\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 27\nSchedule 1 Reviewable decisions\nsection 32\nItem Reviewable decision Affected person\n1 Making BDO by BDR Registrar under section 21 Adult for whom\nBDO is made\n2 Extension of BDO by BDR Registrar under\nsection 23\nAdult subject to\nBDO\n3 Extension of BDO by police under section 24 Adult subject to\nBDO\n4 Refusal by BDR Registrar to vary or revoke BDO\non application under section 25(2)\nApplicant\n5 Refusal by police to vary or revoke BDO or\nextension to BDO on application under\nsection 25A(3)\nApplicant\n6 Making income management order by BDR\nRegistrar under section 27\nAdult for whom\norder is made\n7 Refusal by BDR Registrar to vary or revoke\nincome management order under section 29(2)(c)\nAdult subject to\norder\n\nENDNOTES\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 28\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (Act No. 16, 2017)\nAssent date 30 August 2017\nCommenced 1 September 2017 (Gaz S61, 31 August 2017)\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 28, 2018)\nAssent date 30 November 2018\nCommenced 1 December 2018 (s 2)\nLiquor Act 2019 (Act No. 29, 2019)\nAssent date 3 September 2019\nCommenced 1 October 2019 (Gaz G39, 25 September 2019, p 2)\nJustice Legislation Amendment (Domestic and Family Violence) Act 2023 (Act No. 33,\n2023)\nAssent date 6 December 2023\nCommenced 25 March 2024 (Gaz S20, 22 March 2024)\nAmending Legislation\nJustice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Act No. 4, 2024)\nAssent date 14 March 2024\nCommenced pt 5, div 1: 30 October 2023 (s 2(2));\npt 3, div 2: 25 March 2024 (s 2(3), s 2 Sentencing and\nOther Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (Act No. 28,\n2022) and Gaz S19, 22 March 2024); pt 4:\n25 March 2024 (s 2(4), s 2 Criminal Justice Legislation\nAmendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2023 (Act No. 20,\n2023) and Gaz S20, 22 March 2024);\nrem: 15 March 2024 (s 2(1))\n\nENDNOTES\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 29\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Amendment Act 2023 (Act No. 37, 2023)\nAssent date 6 December 2023\nCommenced 11 December 2023 (Gaz S86, 8 December 2023)\nLiquor Legislation Further Amendment Act 2024 (Act No. 19, 2024)\nAssent date 1 November 2024\nCommenced 2 November 2024 (s 2)\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Amendment Act 2025 (Act No. 38, 2025)\nAssent date 5 December 2025\nCommenced 15 December 2025 (Gaz S80, 12 December 2025)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 4, 5, 10, 24, 38, 42 and 43.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 4 amd No. 28, 2018, s 25; No. 29, 2019, s 338; No. 37, 2023, s 4; No. 33,\n2023, s 68; No. 19, 2024, s 9; No. 38, 2025, s 4\ns 5A ins No. 37, 2023, s 5\ns 7 amd No. 37, 2023, s 6\ns 8 sub No. 37, 2023, s 7\nss 9A – 9C ins No. 37, 2023, s 8\namd No. 38, 2025, s 7\ns 10 amd No. 29, 2019, s 339\nsub No. 37, 2023, s 8\ns 11 amd No. 37, 2023, s 9; No. 38, 2025, s 5\ns 12 amd No. 37, 2023, s 10\ns 13 amd No. 37, 2023, s 11\ns 13A ins No. 37, 2023, s 12\ns 23 amd No. 37, 2023, s 13\ns 24 amd No. 29, 2019, s 340; No. 37, 2023, s 14\ns 25 amd No. 37, 2023, s 15\ns 25A ins No. 37, 2023, s 16\ns 42 amd No. 29, 2019, s 341; No. 37, 2023, s 17\ns 42A ins No. 37, 2023, s 18\ns 43 amd No. 29, 2019, s 342\npt 8 hdg exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nins No. 37, 2023, s 19\npt 8\ndiv 1 hdg\nss 49 – 50 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nins No. 37, 2023, s 19\npt 8\ndiv 2 hdg\nss 51 – 52 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nins No. 37, 2023, s 19\npt 8\ndiv 3 hdg\nss 53 – 54 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nins No. 37, 2023, s 19\n\nENDNOTES\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 30\npt 8\ndiv 4 hdg\nss 56 – 57 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\npt 8\ndiv 5 hdg\nss 58 – 59 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\npt 8\ndiv 6 hdg\ns 60 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\npt 8\ndiv 7 hdg\npt 9 hdg ins No. 38, 2025, s 6\ns 55 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nins No. 38, 2025, s 6\ns 61 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61\nsch 1 sub No. 37, 2023, s 20\nsch 2 exp No. 16, 2017, s 61","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Subsequent amendments have materially broadened and operationalised the original framework. Key scope changes include: introduction and refinement of time‑limited police‑made BDOs (including conversion from 7‑day to 28‑day police BDOs) and an explicit escalation regime for repeated contraventions (ss9A–13, 55); creation of a mechanism for income management orders tied to Commonwealth welfare eligibility (ss27–30); expanded police powers (breath testing — s43) and a new offence targeting supply of alcohol to prohibited persons with a statutory defence for licensees who used the Liquor Act ID system (s42); and expanded information‑sharing and registrar powers (ss35–41). Those amendments move the law beyond a simple register and prohibition mechanism into an administratively richer regime linking criminal enforcement, health‑assessment pathways, welfare conditionality and regulatory compliance for alcohol retailers."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decision‑paths to the same outcome: police BDOs (ss9A–13), self‑applications (ss14–16) and third‑party applications with assessment (ss18–24).","Nested escalation logic for police BDOs: 28‑day police BDO, then first/second/subsequent police BDOs with automatic replacement on contravention (ss9A–13, 9B, 13).","Extensive cross‑references to other statutes: Liquor Act 2019 (identification system, offences), Police Administration Act 1978 (protective custody), Social Security (Administration) Act (income management), Tribunal Act and Criminal Code (see ss4, 6, 27–30, 39–41).","Multiple durations and conditional extensions (3, 6, 12 months; 28 days; rules for extension by Registrar and police) with differing triggers and overlap rules (ss11, 16, 22–24).","Detailed procedural requirements and review rights tied to Tribunal jurisdiction and Schedule 1 (s32, Schedule 1).","Information‑sharing regime with purpose limits and statutory primacy over other Territory laws (ss39–41).","Administrative discretion concentrated in the BDR Registrar with delegation and record‑keeping obligations (ss35–38), plus police discretions (ss24, 25A, 43).","Transitional and amendment history with staged application of changed provisions (Parts 7–9), increasing interpretive complexity for events spanning commencement dates."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanics first)**\n\n- Establishes a statutory system of \"banned drinker orders\" (BDOs) that can be made for adults and recorded on a banned drinker register (the register) (see s7, s9).\n- BDOs prohibit a named adult from purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol for a stated period and set out the consequences for breaching the order (s7).\n- BDOs can be made in three ways: automatically or on-the-spot by police (various police BDOs: 28‑day, first, second, subsequent) (ss9A–13), by the BDR Registrar on an adult’s own application (self‑application) (ss14–16), or by the BDR Registrar after application by others (family members, police, clinicians, child‑protection workers, etc.) following assessment (ss18–24).\n- Police‑made BDOs arise from events such as alcohol‑related protective custody, alcohol‑related infringement notices, certain Liquor Act contraventions, or when the adult is charged or summoned for an alcohol‑related offence (ss9A, 10, 24). These police BDOs have fixed default durations that escalate with repeated contraventions: 28 days (28‑day police BDO) or 3/6/12 months for first/second/subsequent police BDOs (s11).\n- The BDR Registrar makes and manages non‑police BDOs, arranges or receives clinician assessments where required, may extend, vary or revoke BDOs, keeps records and can delegate functions (ss15–17, 21–25, 35–38).\n- The Act permits an income management order (restricting how certain welfare payments are spent) for adults subject to a 12‑month BDO where the adult (or their partner) is an eligible recipient of a specified Commonwealth welfare payment (ss27–29). When such an income management order is made or changed, the Secretary of the Social Security Administration Act must be notified (s30).\n- The Act creates limited new offences and enforcement powers: an offence to supply alcohol to someone subject to a prohibition under the Liquor Act (maximum 100 penalty units) with defences for licensees who used the Liquor Act ID system correctly (s42); police may require breath tests in public where they reasonably believe a person is a banned adult and has been drinking contrary to the BDO (s43); information sharing rules with limits on secondary use are set out (ss39–41). Registration on the banned drinker register makes the BDO effective regardless of whether the adult actually receives the notice (s7(e), s9(3)).\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Adults who may be subject to BDOs (\"banned adults\"): they are prohibited from buying, possessing or drinking alcohol for the BDO period and may be subject to assessment, treatment referral and, in some cases, an income‑management order (ss7, 21, 26–29).\n- Police: required to make certain BDOs, to register/extend them in specified circumstances, to take steps to notify adults and to enforce BDOs including breath testing (ss9A–13, 24, 43).\n- BDR Registrar and public servants: decision‑maker for non‑police BDOs, record‑keeper, and administrator of income management referrals and clinician assessments (ss35–38, 27).\n- Licensees and retail staff who sell alcohol: face a new criminal offence for supplying alcohol to persons subject to prohibition unless they used the Liquor Act identification system correctly (s42).\n- Family members, clinicians, child protection workers and others who can apply for a BDO for someone else (s18).\n- The Commonwealth Secretary (Social Security Administration): notified where income management orders are made (s30).\n\n**Why it matters (as stated, then tested against trade‑offs and mechanics)**\n\n- The Act states its object is to reduce alcohol misuse and related harm by providing a framework for making BDOs, preventing misuse, protecting people from harm and protecting others (including children) from nuisance (s3). That is the express policy purpose.\n\nMechanics, costs and incentives (concrete effects):\n\n- Enforcement and compliance costs: BDOs shift compliance obligations onto banned adults (restricted alcohol access) and onto licensees who must rely on the Liquor Act identification system to avoid liability when serving customers (s42(2)(a); s9 re registration). Police and the BDR Registrar must register, notify and track BDOs — a public administrative cost (ss9, 38).\n- Behaviour change incentives: Adults under BDOs lose legal access to alcohol and may be steered towards assessment and therapeutic support (ss21, 26). Repeated contraventions trigger longer BDOs automatically (ss9B, 13), creating escalating sanctions for repeat conduct.\n- Impact on private enterprise and markets: Retailers face a legal risk (criminal penalty and a 12‑month banning of their own purchase rights on conviction) for unintentionally supplying a banned adult unless the Liquor Act ID system is followed (s42). This imposes transaction costs (ID checks) and possible sales losses where identification or register checks block purchases. The Act does not directly regulate prices, ownership or competition, but adds compliance tasks for businesses that sell alcohol.\n- Bureaucratic discretion and conditionality: The BDR Registrar has broad discretionary powers to make, extend, vary or revoke BDOs and to refer people for assessment (ss21, 23–25, 35–37). Police also have discretion to make and extend BDOs and to require breath tests where reasonable grounds exist (ss24, 43). Those discretion points create implementation risk and require administrative controls (ss36–38, 44 for liability protection).\n- Interactions with other laws and federal payments: Income management orders rely on the federal Social Security Administration Act definitions and category H payment eligibility, so the measure operates at the interface of Territory and Commonwealth administration (ss27–30). The Act also cross‑references the Liquor Act 2019, Police Administration Act 1978 and the Tribunal Act for procedure and offences (multiple sections).\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: Individuals who gain a BDO (either voluntarily or by application) may receive treatment referrals and protection; licensees and the alcohol retail sector bear small per‑transaction compliance costs that are diffuse across businesses, while administrative costs are concentrated in police and the BDR Registrar’s office (ss21, 26, 38, 42).\n- Risks and substitution effects: The law restricts legal purchase/possession/consumption but does not directly eliminate access to alcohol (illegal supply remains possible). The Act creates a new criminal offence for supplying alcohol to prohibited persons (s42), but enforcement resources and identification system reliability affect effectiveness. Income management changes how welfare dollars may be spent, which can alter household purchasing behavior (ss27–28).\n\n**What decisions are made and by whom**\n\n- Police must make certain BDOs and extensions when statutory triggers occur and may vary/revoke in limited circumstances (ss9A–13, 24, 25A).\n- The BDR Registrar decides on non‑police applications, conducts registration, extensions, variations and referrals for assessment or income management (ss15, 21–25, 27–30, 35–37).\n- The Tribunal has review jurisdiction for named decisions (s32; Schedule 1 lists reviewable decisions such as making, extending or refusing to vary/revoke BDOs and income management orders).\n\n**Key statutory citations:** BDO content and registration (ss7–9); police‑made BDOs and escalation (ss9A–13); Registrar applications, assessment and extensions (ss14–25); income management (ss27–30); offence to supply alcohol to prohibited persons (s42); police breath test power (s43); information sharing and limits (ss39–41); review by Tribunal (s32, Schedule 1)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 2017 framework. The original Act created a relatively straightforward system of Banned Drinker Orders with police and Registrar pathways. However, the 2023 amendments introduced a new tier of '28 day police BDOs' (originally 7-day orders, expanded to 28 days by 2025 amendments) triggered by protective custody and infringement notices — effectively creating a rapid-response layer before the original escalating system kicks in. The 2025 amendments further modified these short-term orders. Additionally, the transitional provisions have accumulated across three separate amending Acts (2017 original, 2023 amendments, 2025 amendments), creating a complex web of savings clauses for old Alcohol Protection Orders, old BDOs, and reviews commenced under previous versions. The income management provisions (Part 3) also represent a significant expansion into federal social security territory that wasn't present in the Territory's earlier alcohol control regimes."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping pathways for creating BDOs (police immediate 28-day, police escalating 3/6/12-month, self-application, and third-party application with clinical assessment)","Complex transitional provisions spanning three separate amending Acts (2017, 2023, 2025) with different commencement dates and savings clauses","Nested conditional logic for BDO extensions — different rules apply depending on whether extended by Registrar (discretionary) vs police (mandatory) and depending on the triggering event","Interaction with external legislative schemes: Liquor Act 2019 (for supply offences and identification systems), Social Security (Administration) Act (Cth) for income management, Domestic and Family Violence Act 2007 for police DVOs, and Traffic Act 1987 for drink driving offences","47+ defined terms in section 4, including complex composite definitions like 'alcohol-related offence' and 'alcohol-related infringement notice' that reference multiple external statutes","Specific timing rules for when BDOs 'cease to be in force' vs when new ones are 'taken to have been made' (section 13A creates deemed BDOs based on revocation timing)","Multiple review pathways with different affected persons specified in Schedule 1, plus specific procedural modifications for the Tribunal (oral reasons permitted, no fees)","Defences and exceptions nested within offence provisions (e.g., section 42 supply offence has specific defences for licensees and protected persons under DV law)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's **Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017** (as updated to December 2025). It creates a system to restrict alcohol access for adults whose drinking causes harm to themselves or others.\n\n**The core mechanism: Banned Drinker Orders (BDOs)**\n\nA **BDO** is a formal order that bans an adult from buying, possessing or drinking alcohol for a set period. Once made, the person goes on the \"banned drinker register\" — a list checked by bottle shops and venues before selling alcohol.\n\n**How someone gets a BDO:**\n\nThere are several pathways:\n\n*   **Police can make immediate short-term orders (28 days)** if someone is picked up drunk in protective custody, given an alcohol-related fine, or banned from a licensed venue.\n*   **Police can make longer orders (3, 6 or 12 months)** if someone is charged with an alcohol-related crime, named in a domestic violence order involving alcohol, or repeatedly picked up for alcohol-related incidents (3+ times).\n*   **People can ban themselves** by applying to the BDR Registrar — useful for those wanting to quit.\n*   **Family, doctors, child protection workers or police can apply** for a BDO on someone else. These applications require a clinical assessment to check if the person is misusing alcohol and posing a risk.\n\n**What happens if someone breaks their BDO?**\n\n*   Breaking a 28-day order triggers another 28-day order.\n*   Breaking a 3-month \"first police BDO\" escalates it to 6 months.\n*   Breaking a 6-month order escalates it to 12 months.\n*   Breaking a 12-month order triggers another 12-month order.\n\n**Income management:**\n\nIf someone is on a 12-month BDO and receives certain welfare payments, the Registrar can order that their money be \"income managed\" — meaning a portion is quarantined for essentials and cannot be spent on alcohol.\n\n**Other key features:**\n\n*   **It's a crime** to supply alcohol to someone on the register (with a defence for licensed venues that checked the register and the person didn't show up).\n*   **Police can demand breath tests** in public places if they suspect a banned person has been drinking.\n*   **Reviews:** Most decisions can be appealed to the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.\n*   **Information sharing:** Agencies can share information about banned drinkers to help enforce orders and provide support services.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\nPrimarily adults in the NT who misuse alcohol, their families, police, liquor retailers, clinicians, and social security recipients subject to income management.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law replaces earlier, more punitive systems (Alcohol Mandatory Treatment and Alcohol Protection Orders) with a framework that combines enforcement with pathways to voluntary self-exclusion and clinical assessment. It aims to reduce alcohol-related violence, child neglect, and health harms while attempting to steer people toward treatment rather than just punishment."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017","history":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/alcohol-harm-reduction-act-2017/documents"}}