A Government MP's bill aimed at restricting the number of liquor outlets looks set for a smooth passage after it was fast-tracked into Parliament last night with National's backing.
Manurewa MP George Hawkins last night successfully sought the leave of Parliament to have his bill introduced -- bypassing the normal ballot for member's bills.
Individual MPs can only directly introduce bills with the agreement of Parliament and just one dissenting MP can block it -- something ACT had pledged to do.
However, Mr Hawkins last night sought the leave of Parliament shortly after the dinner break when neither of ACT's two MPs were present.
Mr Hawkins previously failed to get progress on the bill but has won support in the past week following the fatal shooting of Navtej Singh, 30, during a robbery at his Manurewa liquor store on June 7.
There have been two other murders in the area in recent days, which some have linked to drugs and alcohol.
The bill allows any person who can show an adverse impact to object to a licensing application, extends the length of time they have to object and forces licensing authorities to consider the social and environmental impacts of a decision on the community.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, who this week said the bill could form part of a solution to crime problems in the area, said officials were looking at a range of measures including capping the number of liquor licences and widening the grounds on which the public could object to a licence being granted.
Miss Clark said police had grave concerns about the role alcohol was playing in violent offending.
The number of alcohol outlets nationwide had soared since rules were relaxed in 1989 and new research linked outlet density with binge drinking and alcohol-related harm.
The number of licensed premises had gone from 6295 to 14,970 since the legislation was passed.
National leader John Key indicated the party would support the legislation, which he believed gave communities more choice.
However the bill was not a solution to South Auckland's crime problem and National also wanted a wider select committee inquiry into crime and alcohol licensing issues.
ACT MP Heather Roy said Mr Hawkins' bill would make no difference.
"I think there are difficulties with alcohol in the way that we consume alcohol but this isn't the way to tackle the problem. Close a shop in one area another one will open somewhere else."
