Manurewa MP George Hawkins has succeeded in fast-tracking a bill into Parliament aimed at restricting the number of liquor outlets.
Individual MPs can only introduce bills with the agreement of Parliament and just one dissenting MP can block it - something ACT had pledged to do.
However, Mr Hawkins tonight sought the leave of Parliament for the bill to be introduced, shortly after the dinner break when neither of ACT's two MPs were present.
The bill looks set for a smooth passage after the Government indicated this week it could adopt it and National gave its backing.
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.
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.
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.
National leader John Key today indicated the party would support the legislation, which he believed would give communities more choice.
However National also wanted a wider select committee inquiry into crime and alcohol licensing issues.
"Is it the solution to the problems we are seeing in parts of south Auckland and the rest of the country? Absolutely not. Do we think that there needs to be a comprehensive select committee inquiry? Yes. But this is something we can look at."
Mr Key said ACT's stance on the bill was disappointing.
"It's out of sync with where public opinion would be at this time, which is New Zealanders want answers. Quite frankly they are fed up and want Parliament to do something about it."
Mr Key said National was prepared to work constructively with the Government on the issue but he said the Government had failed to act on a promise to review the number of liquor outlets that had come out of its 2006 inquiry into alcohol issues.
The number of licensed premises had gone from 6295 to 14,970 since the legislation was passed.
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."
