Mr GUNNER - 2011-10-20
The Banned Drinker Register is turning problem drinkers off tap and making our community safer. Can you please update the House on the success of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. He is getting very strong local feedback from his two shopping centres at Fannie Bay and Parap that things are quieter since 1 July. There is less antisocial behaviour and, if there is any antisocial behaviour, it is noticeable because it is a spike on the normally quiet days - quite a reverse to the situation we had before the Banned Drinker Register came in.
These are critical alcohol reforms because we have put them in Territory-wide. In a sense, the Banned Drinker Register …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question has now been asked on several occasions by government members. I draw your attention to Standing Order 114 that says that you cannot ask new questions when a question has already been fully answered.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the question has not been asked today.
Ms LAWRIE: It is interesting that the member for Port Darwin thinks he actually knows the answer before I have even gone through the detail. It is interesting that he is so arrogant …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: … as to want to gag debate on an issue that is of critical importance to Territorians. It might not interest you, but it interests many other people …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: Do not try to gag debate. The usefulness of the Banned Drinker Register is that it is a tool that is Territory-wide. It is essentially stopping people from moving to follow access to grog. That is a new and critical element of the BDR. The BDR is in operation across 162 takeaway licences in the Territory. It has processed more than 1.4 million scans for takeaway alcohol purchases in the first three months. Over that period, there have been 1109 refusals of sale where the BDR has identified a registered problem drinker attempting to buy grog. That is more than 1100 times the system has refused sale to a person who has a problem with grog, turning the problem drinker off tap. More than 1100 times, a problem drinker has been prevented from buying alcohol, likely to cause harm to themselves and harm to others, and be a problem to our community.
We know the CLP is soft on alcohol-related crime. We know they ignore the alcohol-fuelled crime and, under them, banned drinkers would be turned back on tap and would still access alcohol.
Whilst it is very early days, the first three months of the Banned Drinker Register is showing signs of working. More than 1500 Territorians are on the register, there have been more than 1100 refusals of sale and, as we heard from the Chief Minister, there has been a 15% reduction in alcohol-fuelled assaults across the Territory in the first three months, taken from the PROMIS police data system. Yet, the opposition would tear it up and allow full open access to grog.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. He is getting very strong local feedback from his two shopping centres at Fannie Bay and Parap that things are quieter since 1 July. There is less antisocial behaviour and, if there is any antisocial behaviour, it is noticeable because it is a spike on the normally quiet days - quite a reverse to the situation we had before the Banned Drinker Register came in.
These are critical alcohol reforms because we have put them in Territory-wide. In a sense, the Banned Drinker Register …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question has now been asked on several occasions by government members. I draw your attention to Standing Order 114 that says that you cannot ask new questions when a question has already been fully answered.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the question has not been asked today.
Ms LAWRIE: It is interesting that the member for Port Darwin thinks he actually knows the answer before I have even gone through the detail. It is interesting that he is so arrogant …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: … as to want to gag debate on an issue that is of critical importance to Territorians. It might not interest you, but it interests many other people …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: Do not try to gag debate. The usefulness of the Banned Drinker Register is that it is a tool that is Territory-wide. It is essentially stopping people from moving to follow access to grog. That is a new and critical element of the BDR. The BDR is in operation across 162 takeaway licences in the Territory. It has processed more than 1.4 million scans for takeaway alcohol purchases in the first three months. Over that period, there have been 1109 refusals of sale where the BDR has identified a registered problem drinker attempting to buy grog. That is more than 1100 times the system has refused sale to a person who has a problem with grog, turning the problem drinker off tap. More than 1100 times, a problem drinker has been prevented from buying alcohol, likely to cause harm to themselves and harm to others, and be a problem to our community.
We know the CLP is soft on alcohol-related crime. We know they ignore the alcohol-fuelled crime and, under them, banned drinkers would be turned back on tap and would still access alcohol.
Whilst it is very early days, the first three months of the Banned Drinker Register is showing signs of working. More than 1500 Territorians are on the register, there have been more than 1100 refusals of sale and, as we heard from the Chief Minister, there has been a 15% reduction in alcohol-fuelled assaults across the Territory in the first three months, taken from the PROMIS police data system. Yet, the opposition would tear it up and allow full open access to grog.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016