Ms WALKER - 2011-08-09
Key to the alcohol reforms is the Banned Drinker Register to turn problem drinkers off tap. Can you please update the House on the roll-out of the Banned Drinker Register and the problem drinker bans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have embarked on the most comprehensive alcohol reforms in the nation that include banning problem drinkers to stop the violence, and enforcing those bans through this all-important tool, the Banned Drinker Register. The roll-out of the BDR is ahead of schedule. We are live in Darwin, Palmerston, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Alice Springs, Elliott - in fact, all licensees up and down the Stuart Highway. Our other regional and remote areas are rolling out through East Arnhem and will be implemented as soon as possible, bearing in mind we have robust permit systems in place; for example, in Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt. However, I emphasise the roll-out has occurred ahead of schedule. We are live in all those regional centres of the Territory with the exception of Nhulunbuy, which has a permit system in place.
We have seen results since 1 July when the system went live. More than 469 000 scans have occurred …
Mr Tollner: Shameful. Penalise the …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you do not have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: You will be hanging your head in shame as the data continues to roll out, member for Fong Lim. You will be the one covered in shame …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: What does this mean, Madam Speaker? As the Chief Minister said, 858 people are on the Banned Drinker Register as of midnight last night. The Banned Drinker Register has detected 182 attempts by a banned drinker to purchase alcohol. That is 182 refusals in just over a month. That is 182 times the CLP would have made that sale. The system has also seen 800 people refused sale for attempting to buy alcohol in contravention of product restrictions that are in place through alcohol management plans across the Territory. In total, one month into the alcohol reforms, we have seen approximately 1000 refusals of sale to problem drinkers. During July, the police applied bans …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: They really do not want to hear it, do they? However, the public is interested. During July, the police applied bans to 334 people apprehended for committing offences. This includes 149 for driving offences, 67 for assault, 40 for breaching a domestic violence order, and 20 for unlawful entry with intent to burgle, break and enter, and property damage. In addition, 107 bans were applied to people taken into protective custody, and five bans applied for secondary supply. It is early days. These figures show we are targeting the problem drinkers and turning them off tap. Terry Mills wants to change these laws and put those problem drinkers back on grog.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have embarked on the most comprehensive alcohol reforms in the nation that include banning problem drinkers to stop the violence, and enforcing those bans through this all-important tool, the Banned Drinker Register. The roll-out of the BDR is ahead of schedule. We are live in Darwin, Palmerston, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Alice Springs, Elliott - in fact, all licensees up and down the Stuart Highway. Our other regional and remote areas are rolling out through East Arnhem and will be implemented as soon as possible, bearing in mind we have robust permit systems in place; for example, in Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt. However, I emphasise the roll-out has occurred ahead of schedule. We are live in all those regional centres of the Territory with the exception of Nhulunbuy, which has a permit system in place.
We have seen results since 1 July when the system went live. More than 469 000 scans have occurred …
Mr Tollner: Shameful. Penalise the …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you do not have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: You will be hanging your head in shame as the data continues to roll out, member for Fong Lim. You will be the one covered in shame …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: What does this mean, Madam Speaker? As the Chief Minister said, 858 people are on the Banned Drinker Register as of midnight last night. The Banned Drinker Register has detected 182 attempts by a banned drinker to purchase alcohol. That is 182 refusals in just over a month. That is 182 times the CLP would have made that sale. The system has also seen 800 people refused sale for attempting to buy alcohol in contravention of product restrictions that are in place through alcohol management plans across the Territory. In total, one month into the alcohol reforms, we have seen approximately 1000 refusals of sale to problem drinkers. During July, the police applied bans …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: They really do not want to hear it, do they? However, the public is interested. During July, the police applied bans to 334 people apprehended for committing offences. This includes 149 for driving offences, 67 for assault, 40 for breaching a domestic violence order, and 20 for unlawful entry with intent to burgle, break and enter, and property damage. In addition, 107 bans were applied to people taken into protective custody, and five bans applied for secondary supply. It is early days. These figures show we are targeting the problem drinkers and turning them off tap. Terry Mills wants to change these laws and put those problem drinkers back on grog.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016