Mr HATTON - 1998-10-08
Madam Speaker, I know that recently Nhulunbuy police arrested 2 men for kava offences, and we have heard some debate in this House over the recent year concerning the necessity to control kava.
Can the minister tell us how the government’s kava control measurements are going and what sort of effect the ban has had on communities? When can we expect to see some moves towards the licensing arrangements that have been talked about?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to report to Parliament on this kava issue and where we are going. Might I also take the opportunity to thank the member for Nhulunbuy for his close cooperation throughout this process, and the praise that he has also given to the way the measures we have put in place are working.
Honourable members would be aware that the Kava Management Act banned kava on 21 May this year. Immediately from that time, an East Arnhem sentinel system, as we call it, has been established. Its job is to monitor the impact of the ban through various harm indicators and an intelligence network of community members and workers throughout the region.
The information from stage 1 of the sentinel system is overall very heartening. Essentially, so far so good. There has been a significant decrease in kava consumption on 7 of the 8 major kava using communities in the region. Early evidence shows there has been a significant increase in community activity and productivity with more CDP work, sport and recreation, cultural activities and teachings such as bush food gathering, hunting, fishing and art production. There have been noticeable improvements in general health. The majority of communities have reported skin clearing, that is from the scaly skin, a weight gain in kava users and their families, and this has also been confirmed by reports from our health clinics. There is also an apparent increase in the amount of disposal income within a majority of the communities.
Early indications also suggest that most communities support the ban, and see it as a good opportunity for people and communities to assert control over kava use and improve the lot of both individual kava users and their communities.
There are also indications that alcohol substitution has been limited in nearly all the communities through this measure and also the use of other drugs as a substitute is being monitored very closely.
Unexpectedly I have received reports that cordial consumption has increased substantially in 5 communities. I am told this is the substitute behaviour with people apparently using cordial drinking as a social focus and, for some, believing they can experience some sort of euphoric effect from the sugar. Again, because of the health implications, this will also be closely monitored.
On the regulation side of things, for the information of honourable members, about 2 tonnes of kava have been seized or surrendered to date, and the Liquor Commission is measurably moving towards the licensing regime. Members would be interested to know that thus far, 29 expressions of interest and 4 applications have been lodged for the single wholesale licence. 21 expressions of interest have been lodged for retail licences and 14 communities have inquired about licence areas with only one community having applied to be a licensed area. There are some delays with actually introducing the licensing regime, not the least being that wholesale and retail prices are up and down at the moment with regards to the world market and settling on a price is quite difficult.
Overall, I am encouraged by the positive results we have had so far from the ban but I am mindful that we have to get moving as soon as possible on the licensing aspect. I certainly would like to take the opportunity to congratulate those communities who have reacted sensibly to kava control and praise the excellent work being done by Territory Health Services, Liquor Commission officers and police in helping to ensure a smooth transition.
Can the minister tell us how the government’s kava control measurements are going and what sort of effect the ban has had on communities? When can we expect to see some moves towards the licensing arrangements that have been talked about?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to report to Parliament on this kava issue and where we are going. Might I also take the opportunity to thank the member for Nhulunbuy for his close cooperation throughout this process, and the praise that he has also given to the way the measures we have put in place are working.
Honourable members would be aware that the Kava Management Act banned kava on 21 May this year. Immediately from that time, an East Arnhem sentinel system, as we call it, has been established. Its job is to monitor the impact of the ban through various harm indicators and an intelligence network of community members and workers throughout the region.
The information from stage 1 of the sentinel system is overall very heartening. Essentially, so far so good. There has been a significant decrease in kava consumption on 7 of the 8 major kava using communities in the region. Early evidence shows there has been a significant increase in community activity and productivity with more CDP work, sport and recreation, cultural activities and teachings such as bush food gathering, hunting, fishing and art production. There have been noticeable improvements in general health. The majority of communities have reported skin clearing, that is from the scaly skin, a weight gain in kava users and their families, and this has also been confirmed by reports from our health clinics. There is also an apparent increase in the amount of disposal income within a majority of the communities.
Early indications also suggest that most communities support the ban, and see it as a good opportunity for people and communities to assert control over kava use and improve the lot of both individual kava users and their communities.
There are also indications that alcohol substitution has been limited in nearly all the communities through this measure and also the use of other drugs as a substitute is being monitored very closely.
Unexpectedly I have received reports that cordial consumption has increased substantially in 5 communities. I am told this is the substitute behaviour with people apparently using cordial drinking as a social focus and, for some, believing they can experience some sort of euphoric effect from the sugar. Again, because of the health implications, this will also be closely monitored.
On the regulation side of things, for the information of honourable members, about 2 tonnes of kava have been seized or surrendered to date, and the Liquor Commission is measurably moving towards the licensing regime. Members would be interested to know that thus far, 29 expressions of interest and 4 applications have been lodged for the single wholesale licence. 21 expressions of interest have been lodged for retail licences and 14 communities have inquired about licence areas with only one community having applied to be a licensed area. There are some delays with actually introducing the licensing regime, not the least being that wholesale and retail prices are up and down at the moment with regards to the world market and settling on a price is quite difficult.
Overall, I am encouraged by the positive results we have had so far from the ban but I am mindful that we have to get moving as soon as possible on the licensing aspect. I certainly would like to take the opportunity to congratulate those communities who have reacted sensibly to kava control and praise the excellent work being done by Territory Health Services, Liquor Commission officers and police in helping to ensure a smooth transition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016