Mr WOOD - 2013-05-16
Yesterday the Minister for Health introduced the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill. This is a radical and controversial approach by your government in an attempt to turn people’s lives around who are seriously affected by alcohol, as well as reducing antisocial behaviour. As a matter of good governance and proper diligence, would you consider, before passing this bill at the next sittings, sending this bill to a committee of parliament to:
(1) scrutinise the workings of the bill
(2) inspect the facilities planned to house people affected
(3) investigate other detention options
(4) investigate mandatory rehabilitation practices elsewhere and their effectiveness
(5) consult with those who work in alcohol rehabilitation in the Territory and interstate
(6) consult the wider community, especially Aboriginal people
(7) report back to parliament in four months with the findings?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his good and sensible question. I will hand over to the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation in a second.
Most of the things you have asked for have already been done, which is why it has taken a period of time for us to introduce this legislation. As part of the parliamentary legislative process there is a committee process before legislation is passed, and that part of the committee process will be undertaken in this regard.
In reference to the last answer provided by the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation, I want to make one thing clear: we are here to try to help people who have an alcohol problem ...
Ms Walker: You are here to criminalise drunkenness.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is not about criminalising drunkenness. Labor talks about criminalising drunkenness and people should have the right to drink, but then they want to put in supply side measures. There are people in the Northern Territory who have chronic alcohol abuse and substance misuse issues. We want to help people in that frame. It is …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was: would the government set up a committee of parliament, not just the one that looks at legislation but for all the things I mentioned. That is the answer I would like. If the minister then wants to go on with other things - I would like the parliament to have a committee which would look at this very serious subject and report back. It is too important to be rushed through without proper consultation.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, this policy approach was put to a general election. There has been a change of government. There was widespread support for us. There will be a committee process as part of the legislative approach. When the legislation is introduced, a committee will look at it.
I would now like to pass over to the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation who can answer some of the more detailed elements of your question.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The member for Nelson asked a specific question. He has not given a yes or no answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, you still need to have the call. Despite standing up, you still need to get the call from the Speaker.
Ms FYLES: Sorry, I apologise.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, on the Monday afternoon before we presented this bill to parliament we made the legislation publicly available. People throughout the Northern Territory, whether they are members of parliament, drinkers or concerned residents, will have the opportunity to feed their comments through to the Department of Health until 31 May. It is a fairly tight window of opportunity, but we welcome feedback.
This is a new initiative. As I said, it has never been done before. It is unprecedented in the Northern Territory and in Australia. We have already started to consult with stakeholder groups. The Department of Health met with NAAJA and CAALAS from Central Australia on Tuesday morning. We will continue to do that. We want their feedback.
We are hearing their criticisms, many of which have been very constructive so far, and we look openly at amending some small aspects of this legislation. We do not necessarily think it is legislation that is not worthy of criticism and scrutiny, quite the opposite. Because it is so new and different we welcome feedback and your thoughts.
(1) scrutinise the workings of the bill
(2) inspect the facilities planned to house people affected
(3) investigate other detention options
(4) investigate mandatory rehabilitation practices elsewhere and their effectiveness
(5) consult with those who work in alcohol rehabilitation in the Territory and interstate
(6) consult the wider community, especially Aboriginal people
(7) report back to parliament in four months with the findings?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his good and sensible question. I will hand over to the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation in a second.
Most of the things you have asked for have already been done, which is why it has taken a period of time for us to introduce this legislation. As part of the parliamentary legislative process there is a committee process before legislation is passed, and that part of the committee process will be undertaken in this regard.
In reference to the last answer provided by the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation, I want to make one thing clear: we are here to try to help people who have an alcohol problem ...
Ms Walker: You are here to criminalise drunkenness.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is not about criminalising drunkenness. Labor talks about criminalising drunkenness and people should have the right to drink, but then they want to put in supply side measures. There are people in the Northern Territory who have chronic alcohol abuse and substance misuse issues. We want to help people in that frame. It is …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was: would the government set up a committee of parliament, not just the one that looks at legislation but for all the things I mentioned. That is the answer I would like. If the minister then wants to go on with other things - I would like the parliament to have a committee which would look at this very serious subject and report back. It is too important to be rushed through without proper consultation.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, this policy approach was put to a general election. There has been a change of government. There was widespread support for us. There will be a committee process as part of the legislative approach. When the legislation is introduced, a committee will look at it.
I would now like to pass over to the Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation who can answer some of the more detailed elements of your question.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The member for Nelson asked a specific question. He has not given a yes or no answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, you still need to have the call. Despite standing up, you still need to get the call from the Speaker.
Ms FYLES: Sorry, I apologise.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, on the Monday afternoon before we presented this bill to parliament we made the legislation publicly available. People throughout the Northern Territory, whether they are members of parliament, drinkers or concerned residents, will have the opportunity to feed their comments through to the Department of Health until 31 May. It is a fairly tight window of opportunity, but we welcome feedback.
This is a new initiative. As I said, it has never been done before. It is unprecedented in the Northern Territory and in Australia. We have already started to consult with stakeholder groups. The Department of Health met with NAAJA and CAALAS from Central Australia on Tuesday morning. We will continue to do that. We want their feedback.
We are hearing their criticisms, many of which have been very constructive so far, and we look openly at amending some small aspects of this legislation. We do not necessarily think it is legislation that is not worthy of criticism and scrutiny, quite the opposite. Because it is so new and different we welcome feedback and your thoughts.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016