Ms WALKER - 2012-03-27
The Enough is Enough alcohol reforms are the most comprehensive alcohol reforms in the nation. Can you please inform the House how you propose to expand these reforms by further targeting antisocial behaviour and strengthening the powers of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy. She has been an ardent supporter and understands what these reforms are about, going to the heart of tackling the problem drinker. We have seen the reforms progressing well in the first six months. We have more than 2100 people on the Banned Drinker Register. That is 2100 people who committed alcohol-related crimes, or continuously wound up in police protective custody. They have been turned off tap at our bottle shops.
Police believe the BDR is the best tool they have to fight antisocial behaviour and crime and it is showing in the data coming through. In this first six months, we saw a 12% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Darwin; a 13% reduction ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Maybe the member for Karama might want to walk outside this place and check out some of the parks around and see how many drunks are still there …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr TOLLNER: … and tell us how well it is going.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I would like you to leave the Chamber, thank you. It is a frivolous point of order. Leave the Chamber for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Unlike the waffle of the member for Fong Lim who does not understand the reforms and does not read legislation - he has form - the data is clear. In the first six months alone there has been a 12% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Darwin. There has been a 13% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Palmerston, an 11% reduction in Katherine, and an 8% reduction in Alice Springs. Rehabilitation is being boosted with extra beds and treatment across the Territory. Treatment times for withdrawal have dropped from eight days to less than three hours.
We will build on this success by introducing the Liquor and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. It will give police and the tribunal additional tools to get problem drinkers into rehab. Police will have the power to issue an on-the-spot infringement fine of $70 to people drinking in a public place within 2 km of licensed premises and causing a nuisance to other people. Three infringement notices in 12 months and the problem drinker goes on the Banned Drinker Register. As well as tipping out grog, police will have this infringement notice linked to the BDR, increasing their ability to break the drinking cycle, target repeat offenders and direct them into treatment.
The legislation also increases the power of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal, forcing problem drinkers into rehab. The tribunal can make orders so that a problem drinker is subjected to income management, including making ex parte orders in the absence of the problem drinker before the tribunal. This means welfare recipients on the Banned Drinker Register can have up to 70% of their income managed until they complete treatment orders by the tribunal. By targeting drinking in public places, and giving the tribunal more powers to force problem drinkers into rehab, we will reduce antisocial behaviour.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy. She has been an ardent supporter and understands what these reforms are about, going to the heart of tackling the problem drinker. We have seen the reforms progressing well in the first six months. We have more than 2100 people on the Banned Drinker Register. That is 2100 people who committed alcohol-related crimes, or continuously wound up in police protective custody. They have been turned off tap at our bottle shops.
Police believe the BDR is the best tool they have to fight antisocial behaviour and crime and it is showing in the data coming through. In this first six months, we saw a 12% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Darwin; a 13% reduction ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Maybe the member for Karama might want to walk outside this place and check out some of the parks around and see how many drunks are still there …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr TOLLNER: … and tell us how well it is going.
_____________________
Suspension of Member
Member for Fong Lim
Suspension of Member
Member for Fong Lim
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I would like you to leave the Chamber, thank you. It is a frivolous point of order. Leave the Chamber for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
_____________________
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Unlike the waffle of the member for Fong Lim who does not understand the reforms and does not read legislation - he has form - the data is clear. In the first six months alone there has been a 12% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Darwin. There has been a 13% reduction in alcohol-related assaults in Palmerston, an 11% reduction in Katherine, and an 8% reduction in Alice Springs. Rehabilitation is being boosted with extra beds and treatment across the Territory. Treatment times for withdrawal have dropped from eight days to less than three hours.
We will build on this success by introducing the Liquor and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. It will give police and the tribunal additional tools to get problem drinkers into rehab. Police will have the power to issue an on-the-spot infringement fine of $70 to people drinking in a public place within 2 km of licensed premises and causing a nuisance to other people. Three infringement notices in 12 months and the problem drinker goes on the Banned Drinker Register. As well as tipping out grog, police will have this infringement notice linked to the BDR, increasing their ability to break the drinking cycle, target repeat offenders and direct them into treatment.
The legislation also increases the power of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal, forcing problem drinkers into rehab. The tribunal can make orders so that a problem drinker is subjected to income management, including making ex parte orders in the absence of the problem drinker before the tribunal. This means welfare recipients on the Banned Drinker Register can have up to 70% of their income managed until they complete treatment orders by the tribunal. By targeting drinking in public places, and giving the tribunal more powers to force problem drinkers into rehab, we will reduce antisocial behaviour.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016