Ms LEE - 2013-08-21
It is early days, but can you provide the House with examples of the positive outcomes being achieved by the alcohol mandatory treatment system for individuals suffering chronic alcohol abuse and for other Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Just 52 days into our alcohol mandatory treatment program across the Northern Territory we are seeing some great results. We are hearing some really good news, particularly at a very individual level, of people making changes in their lives.
It was good to know the former Labor government supported mandatory alcohol rehabilitation, despite the complaints and criticisms from the opposite side of the Chamber. The former Chief Ministers, Paul Henderson and Clare Martin, and the current Leader of the Opposition are on the public record supporting mandatory alcohol treatment. It is good to have them on side despite their complaints and the ongoing barrage of criticisms.
The first person to come into alcohol mandatory treatment was a woman in Alice Springs ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. Can the minister please advise where Brewdini is today?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fannie Bay, leave the Chamber for one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, I will share with the Chamber today a good news story about the first person to come into alcohol mandatory treatment in the Northern Territory, a woman in Alice Springs. This woman has been troubled by alcohol abuse for many years, and is very well known to the system through CAAAPU, the local provider of residential alcohol rehabilitation in Alice Springs. She came to our notice through three protective custody orders within a couple of weeks of the roll-out of this treatment program. She was obviously known to the police and picked up within a couple of weeks from 1 July, our roll-out.
This woman, once in treatment, shared with the people at CAAAPU looking after her that she realised she required treatment and had always tried to run away from treatment; she was not inclined to seek it voluntarily. She communicated with the staff that she was happy to undergo treatment. She realised it was going to be a good thing for her and she is working very cooperatively with the staff of CAAAPU, with the alcohol management treatment program, to change her life. That is a positive story. That is the first person to come into mandatory treatment and is a good sign of things to come.
The second person taken into mandatory treatment was taken into the facility in Darwin, the Darwin Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Centre. On 31 July he was brought in through protective custody. Within the first month of treatment he too was very open to treatment. He was allowed to go back to his community and undergo sorry business with his family as part of the flexible tribunal system.
These are good stories, Madam Speaker. Alcohol mandatory treatment is working in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Just 52 days into our alcohol mandatory treatment program across the Northern Territory we are seeing some great results. We are hearing some really good news, particularly at a very individual level, of people making changes in their lives.
It was good to know the former Labor government supported mandatory alcohol rehabilitation, despite the complaints and criticisms from the opposite side of the Chamber. The former Chief Ministers, Paul Henderson and Clare Martin, and the current Leader of the Opposition are on the public record supporting mandatory alcohol treatment. It is good to have them on side despite their complaints and the ongoing barrage of criticisms.
The first person to come into alcohol mandatory treatment was a woman in Alice Springs ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. Can the minister please advise where Brewdini is today?
_____________________
Suspension of Member
Member for Fannie Bay
Member for Fannie Bay
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fannie Bay, leave the Chamber for one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
_____________________
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, I will share with the Chamber today a good news story about the first person to come into alcohol mandatory treatment in the Northern Territory, a woman in Alice Springs. This woman has been troubled by alcohol abuse for many years, and is very well known to the system through CAAAPU, the local provider of residential alcohol rehabilitation in Alice Springs. She came to our notice through three protective custody orders within a couple of weeks of the roll-out of this treatment program. She was obviously known to the police and picked up within a couple of weeks from 1 July, our roll-out.
This woman, once in treatment, shared with the people at CAAAPU looking after her that she realised she required treatment and had always tried to run away from treatment; she was not inclined to seek it voluntarily. She communicated with the staff that she was happy to undergo treatment. She realised it was going to be a good thing for her and she is working very cooperatively with the staff of CAAAPU, with the alcohol management treatment program, to change her life. That is a positive story. That is the first person to come into mandatory treatment and is a good sign of things to come.
The second person taken into mandatory treatment was taken into the facility in Darwin, the Darwin Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Centre. On 31 July he was brought in through protective custody. Within the first month of treatment he too was very open to treatment. He was allowed to go back to his community and undergo sorry business with his family as part of the flexible tribunal system.
These are good stories, Madam Speaker. Alcohol mandatory treatment is working in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016