Apply for a liquor permit on the Gove Peninsula

If you live, work or are visiting the Gove Peninsula, you can apply for a liquor permit to buy takeaway alcohol.

This includes Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara and Yirrkala.

There are restrictions on how much alcohol you can buy depending on the conditions of your permit.

Who can apply

You can apply for a permit if you're over 18 years old and are one of the following:

• a permanent or long-term resident
• a contractor
• a tourist or visitor with recognised accommodation.

Before you apply

You must have one of the following.

• current driver licence
• passport
• evidence of age card (also known as 18+ card)

You will also need to provide one of the following:

• proof of employment
• proof of residence - e.g. power bill.

If you're a contractor, you will also need to provide a letter of support signed by your employer.

If you're an overseas tourist, you must also have one of the following:

• government issued photo ID card
• passport
• proof of residence
• proof of employment.

Read more about identification.

What you can apply for

There are 3 types of permits you can apply for.

Resident

If you plan to live or have lived in the region for 3 months or more, you are classed as a resident.

You can apply for a resident liquor permit. This permit is valid for 3 years unless cancelled by NT Police or the Gove Peninsula Liquor Permit Committee. You must reapply for a new permit when it expires.

Contractor

If you're on a fixed contract of up to 6 months or a contractor who frequently comes to the region for work purposes, but are not a resident, you can apply for a contractor liquor permit. This includes fly-in fly-out workers.

To apply for this permit, you must submit a letter of support signed by your employer with your liquor permit application.

Visitor

If you're visiting the region for 3 months or less and are not a contractor, you can apply for a visitor liquor permit.

This permit is for:

• visitors who have recognised accommodation or
• visitors staying with a resident.

Staying with a resident

If you're a visitor staying with a resident, you can drink alcohol under their permit while you wait for your permit.

To do this:

• the resident must have a current liquor permit
• you must follow the conditions of the resident’s permit
• the resident can provide you with alcohol, but only out of their own supply.

If you break any of the resident’s permit conditions, their permit can be revoked.

You can apply to have a permit cover the length of your stay. If your stay runs longer than your permit's end date, you must apply for a new permit.

Temporary changes to permit rules

On 1 October 2023, the Gove Peninsula Harmony Group introduced trial changes to the takeaway alcohol permit system.

The harmony group is an advisory group made up of leaders and key organisations from across the peninsula.

The trial was introduced with assistance from the NT Government to support safer and stronger East Arnhem communities.

Extended trial

Three-month trial data from NT Police and NT Health has shown a decrease in:

• alcohol-related assaults across the Gove Peninsula
• alcohol-related presentations at the Gove District Hospital.

Based on this data and community interest to continue the trial, the harmony group has recommended that the government extend it for a further 12 months.

The trial will run from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

This extension will allow data to be evaluated over a longer period to assess the trial's effectiveness in reducing alcohol-based harm in the region.

Where changes apply

The trial changes apply to the takeaway alcohol permit system in:

• Nhulunbuy
• Yirrkala
• Gunyangara.

What the changes mean

The changes mean:

• a maximum daily limit will remain in place
• the 4-level tier system will continue.

Takeaway alcohol restrictions are decided by what level your permit is set at.

Permit holders who live in Nhulunbuy can access all tiers. Permit holders who live in Yirrkala and Gunyangara will have access to the first 3 tiers.

Residents won’t have to re-apply for a permit during the 12-month trial, unless their permit has naturally expired.

Access levels

During the trial period, if you currently hold a level:

• 1 - you can access tier 1
• 2 and 3 - you can access tier 2
• 4 - you can access tier 3
• 5 or 6 - you can access tier 4.

Tiers and daily limits

Your tier level allows you to buy the below per day:

Tier 1

• 6 cans or bottles of light beer.

Tier 2

• 12 cans or bottles of full-strength beer or cider or
• 1 bottle of wine or
• 6 cans or bottles of premixed drinks.

Tier 3

• 1 carton (up to 30 units) of full-strength beer or cider or
• 6 bottles of wine or
• 12 cans or bottles of premix spirits.

Tier 4

Up to 3 of any combination below.

Only 1 bottle of spirits or 1 carton (up to 24 cans or bottles) of premix spirits can be part of this combination:

• 1 carton (up to 30 units) of full-strength beer
• 1 carton (up to 30 units) of cider
• 6 bottles of wine
• 1 bottle of spirits or
• 1 carton (up to 24 cans or bottles) of premix spirits.

How to apply

If you don't have a permit and want to apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application for a liquor permit for Gove Peninsula.

Application for a liquor permit for Gove Peninsula PDF (224.7 KB)
Application for a liquor permit for Gove Peninsula  DOCX (76.8 KB)

Step 2. Submit your form and supporting documents by emailing them to liquorpermits.ditt@nt.gov.au.

Give feedback

To find out more or to submit feedback, go to the Have Your Say website.

Contact

Liquor Permits – Licensing NT
GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801
LiquorPermits.DITT@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8999 1800