Ms WALKER - 2009-10-14
Can you please update the House on the government’s efforts to address alcohol-fuelled crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. We know that a majority of assaults across the Territory are, sadly, alcohol related. We know the CLP’s only policy to address alcohol-fuelled crime is to sell more alcohol.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: Check out the motion that the member for Araluen has placed before this Chamber …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … to sell more alcohol for more hours in Alice Springs.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: You are a failure.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: In contrast, this government has a comprehensive strategy to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, that is, crime and antisocial behaviour. Our strategy includes patrols, supply restrictions, more rehabilitation, and treatment programs.
Ms Carney: People are drinking Listerine and cooking essence, did you know that?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: The unacceptably high levels of alcohol-related violence was one of the reasons why this government took the tough action and introduced an innovative model, the alcohol court.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: A vehicle by which you can avoid custody.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: They truly are a rabble. We are the only jurisdiction which has established an alcohol court …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: Since its commencement, there have been 380 referrals to the court, with 251 treatments ordered. A total of 121 clients have successfully completed the rehabilitation program.
Mr Giles: That is 13 000 protective custodies in Alice Springs; 140 people have completed it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Attorney-General has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, we think the alcohol courts could be more effective. We are the first and only place to bring in an alcohol court in Australia. We never pretended that the first part was going to be perfect. We always said we will go in and review its operation, which is what we have done. We have undertaken a comprehensive review. We will be releasing a discussion paper into the public domain to bring forward the debate around the alcohol court options that are contained within that discussion paper. It raises a range of options that we believe have a great deal of merit and will work. We are also asking for ideas from the experts in the sector …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: I will give the opposition a tip: we will not be increasing supply to reduce alcohol consumption. That is a tip, a direction to the opposition.
We will continue to do all it takes to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence in our community, the tragedy which occurs as a consequence of that, and alcohol courts are one part of that strategy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. We know that a majority of assaults across the Territory are, sadly, alcohol related. We know the CLP’s only policy to address alcohol-fuelled crime is to sell more alcohol.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: Check out the motion that the member for Araluen has placed before this Chamber …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … to sell more alcohol for more hours in Alice Springs.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: You are a failure.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: In contrast, this government has a comprehensive strategy to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, that is, crime and antisocial behaviour. Our strategy includes patrols, supply restrictions, more rehabilitation, and treatment programs.
Ms Carney: People are drinking Listerine and cooking essence, did you know that?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: The unacceptably high levels of alcohol-related violence was one of the reasons why this government took the tough action and introduced an innovative model, the alcohol court.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: A vehicle by which you can avoid custody.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: They truly are a rabble. We are the only jurisdiction which has established an alcohol court …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: Since its commencement, there have been 380 referrals to the court, with 251 treatments ordered. A total of 121 clients have successfully completed the rehabilitation program.
Mr Giles: That is 13 000 protective custodies in Alice Springs; 140 people have completed it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Attorney-General has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, we think the alcohol courts could be more effective. We are the first and only place to bring in an alcohol court in Australia. We never pretended that the first part was going to be perfect. We always said we will go in and review its operation, which is what we have done. We have undertaken a comprehensive review. We will be releasing a discussion paper into the public domain to bring forward the debate around the alcohol court options that are contained within that discussion paper. It raises a range of options that we believe have a great deal of merit and will work. We are also asking for ideas from the experts in the sector …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: I will give the opposition a tip: we will not be increasing supply to reduce alcohol consumption. That is a tip, a direction to the opposition.
We will continue to do all it takes to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence in our community, the tragedy which occurs as a consequence of that, and alcohol courts are one part of that strategy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016