Mr CONLAN - 2015-12-02
In keeping with our law and order theme today, and how proactive the Country Liberal government has been in addressing law and order issues across the Territory, can you please update the House on the implementation and expansion of the TBLs, or Point of Sale Interventions as they are now known, and the positive impact that has had on alcohol consumption across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I expect more shrillness from across the Chamber.
I have heard members opposite say this side of the Chamber has no idea what it is doing. That is their measurement because they say we have no idea, but we are achieving far more. Everything that should be going up is going up, and everything that should be going down is going down.
They say we have no idea of what we are doing over here, but the Territory is going really well. It is a judgment on their own judgments, because they achieved worse results than we are achieving.
In relation to Point of Sale Interventions, some enormous improvements have been achieved by the Giles government in minimising alcohol-related harm. The 2015 Northern Territory wholesale alcohol report, released last month, shows a significant reduction in supply, accompanied by a dramatic decrease in alcohol-related assaults, especially in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. It showed per capita consumption of alcohol across the NT dropped to 12.21L in 2014. That is the lowest figures since 2007. Consumption decreased by 10% in Alice Springs during the same time. The supply of wine dropped by 7%, with cask wine down dramatically by 77%, and spirits and beer decreased by 12%. Tennant Creek recorded a 22% drop in overall alcohol supply. Nhulunbuy was down 4% and Katherine slowed to a 1% decrease.
Importantly, these fantastic figures achieved in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek are paired with an equally fantastic reduction in assault involving alcohol. During the same period, these assaults declined by 32% in Alice Springs and a massive 60% in Tennant Creek. Point of Sale Interventions, or POSIs as they are called - formerly temporary beat locations - were implemented in Alice Springs in February 2014, and in Tennant Creek in March 2014. The substantial decrease in alcohol supply and corresponding drops in alcohol-related assaults are undeniable proof POSIs are working.
I am not surprised they jump up and down on the other side of the Chamber when they hear good news. Labor would have the community believe POSIs are a waste of time and police resources. We heard in the Chamber yesterday that they would scrap them.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. It was a direct question; why will you not read out the figures for Darwin and the northern suburbs?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has time to answer the question.
Mr STYLES: They do not like good news; they try to detract from many things. I put it to the Labor members that women, children and men have escaped assault, injury, illness and hardships due to these reductions. We have strong evidence supporting POSIs, and the Country Liberal government is working to ensure it is a sustainable strategy into the future. We have consulted and we have the results, which speak for themselves. Good luck getting rid of them in Katherine.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I expect more shrillness from across the Chamber.
I have heard members opposite say this side of the Chamber has no idea what it is doing. That is their measurement because they say we have no idea, but we are achieving far more. Everything that should be going up is going up, and everything that should be going down is going down.
They say we have no idea of what we are doing over here, but the Territory is going really well. It is a judgment on their own judgments, because they achieved worse results than we are achieving.
In relation to Point of Sale Interventions, some enormous improvements have been achieved by the Giles government in minimising alcohol-related harm. The 2015 Northern Territory wholesale alcohol report, released last month, shows a significant reduction in supply, accompanied by a dramatic decrease in alcohol-related assaults, especially in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. It showed per capita consumption of alcohol across the NT dropped to 12.21L in 2014. That is the lowest figures since 2007. Consumption decreased by 10% in Alice Springs during the same time. The supply of wine dropped by 7%, with cask wine down dramatically by 77%, and spirits and beer decreased by 12%. Tennant Creek recorded a 22% drop in overall alcohol supply. Nhulunbuy was down 4% and Katherine slowed to a 1% decrease.
Importantly, these fantastic figures achieved in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek are paired with an equally fantastic reduction in assault involving alcohol. During the same period, these assaults declined by 32% in Alice Springs and a massive 60% in Tennant Creek. Point of Sale Interventions, or POSIs as they are called - formerly temporary beat locations - were implemented in Alice Springs in February 2014, and in Tennant Creek in March 2014. The substantial decrease in alcohol supply and corresponding drops in alcohol-related assaults are undeniable proof POSIs are working.
I am not surprised they jump up and down on the other side of the Chamber when they hear good news. Labor would have the community believe POSIs are a waste of time and police resources. We heard in the Chamber yesterday that they would scrap them.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. It was a direct question; why will you not read out the figures for Darwin and the northern suburbs?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has time to answer the question.
Mr STYLES: They do not like good news; they try to detract from many things. I put it to the Labor members that women, children and men have escaped assault, injury, illness and hardships due to these reductions. We have strong evidence supporting POSIs, and the Country Liberal government is working to ensure it is a sustainable strategy into the future. We have consulted and we have the results, which speak for themselves. Good luck getting rid of them in Katherine.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016