In August 2026, the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly referred the Traffic Legislation Amendment (Drink and Drug Driving and Hooning) Bill 2026 to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee for inquiry.
Alcohol is a major road safety issue in the NT, linked to nearly half of road deaths and nearly one-third of serious injuries from 2014–2024. FARE supports the Bill’s drink-driving countermeasures where enforcement is paired with clear public education.
FARE’s submission also raised concerns about the unreasonable submission deadlines and limited explanatory detail about the Bill’s practical effects. The one-week window for submissions has become a standard for NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee inquiries making it difficult for community organisations provide informed feedback and diverting limited resources to meet unreasonable submission deadlines.
Adequate consultation time is essential to support meaningful public participation and better policy outcomes.
It is expected the Bill will be debated and passed at the October sittings of the NT Legislative Assembly.