Katherine Town Council Mayor, Lis Clark, has called on Woolworths to join the Council in lobbying the Northern Territory and Australian Governments for increased local security and responsible alcohol controls after the supermarket giant announced it would cut trading hours due to staff safety concerns.
Woolworths recently announced its decision to reduce opening hours from 7am – 10pm, to 7am – 7pm, citing safety issues around alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour after dark.
Mayor Clark (pictured) said the Council did not support the reduction in trading.
“Many Katherine residents, visiting contractors, and tourists rely on Woolworths’ extended evening hours to shop after work or upon arrival in Katherine,” she said.
“For those travelling long distances on the Stuart and Victoria Highways, reaching Katherine late in the day and being able to access a supermarket offering fresh and affordable groceries until 9pm is both practical and important.
“There is no nearby alternative. The next closest fresh food supermarket of comparable range and affordability is more than three hours away to the north, and nearly six hours to the west or south.”
She said reducing access to groceries in a regional hub like Katherine impacts residents, the wider region, and the travelling public who rely on the town’s services.
“This decision does nothing to address the root cause of the challenges Woolworths is seeking to manage – the security issues linked to antisocial behaviour from alcohol misuse. Limiting access to everyday goods is not a solution. Shifting the focus away from the underlying issues allows those problems to persist.”
“Instead of reducing its hours, I call on Woolworths to join the Council in lobbying the Northern Territory and Australian governments for more meaningful action. This includes increased security support at bottle shops, responsible controls on alcohol availability, and expanded investment in alcohol addiction services for Katherine.”
The Mayor said the Council remained committed to working collaboratively with all levels of government, service providers, and the private sector to create a safer, more supported community.
“We ask Woolworths to be part of that solution,” she said.
I absolutely support the safety and well-being of Woolworths staff. Every worker deserves to feel safe at their workplace, and I support Woolworths’ attempts to protect their team.
“But we can’t allow the solution to serious social issues to be closing businesses or reducing trading hours, especially when it affects the broader community, including residents, families, contractors, and visitors who rely on these services.
“The real issue here is the ongoing alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and crime that continues to impact our town. That’s where our energy, attention and investment should be focused. We need solutions, not temporary workarounds,” she said.
