Mrs BRAHAM - 2006-08-22
The Alice Springs Liquor Supply Plan restricts the sale of cask wines for three hours only from 6 pm to 9 pm each day. You are well aware that these restrictions disadvantage a number of our senior pensioners who do not go out after 6 pm to buy their liquor. They purchase cask wine for economic as well as other reasons. Minister, what can you tell them about this that will deny them their cask of wine, or do you have a solution that you will assist the Liquor Commission’s finding in relation to this problem that disadvantages a group of residents who should be able to enjoy their glass of wine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the misuse and abuse of alcohol across the Northern Territory is a major social challenge for this government. It has been for many years. We are determined, on any of the issues before us, to make a real dent in this over the next six to 12 months. There will be a lot of work in and around local alcohol management plans in the supply reduction strategies, demand reduction strategies and harm reduction strategies being brought into place if we win on those first two.
In relation to the question of hours and when this particular product might be sold, only yesterday morning, coming back in from the northern suburbs, I heard one licensee publicly on ABC radio making points about whether this was going to be effective or work for the community, and that is what the Licensing Commission is going through now; hearing those views of the licensees that objected to the proposal in the first place.
The Licensing Commission is made up of a group of reasonable minded people who will take into account the views put – that is why they have these public hearings – by the licensees and any negative effect on the community overall.
Mrs Braham: Will you introduce the same rule for Darwin?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker …
Dr Lim: Of course not!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, there is the bloke over the back who did nothing. In all the years he had an opportunity when he was in government as a minister, and he is saying: ‘Are you going to do it in Darwin?’
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: They have this little complex about Alice Springs versus Darwin, and you will never get it out of their heads. You will never, ever, and I do not even intend to try.
The fact is, these issues arise at the local level, and are put forward by the local community, who are best placed in what they see occurring on the ground, in the loss of amenity that people suffer as a result of alcohol abuse. That is why we are going through these local area alcohol management plans, and that is where these issues come up. Are we going to do it in Darwin, well no-one suggested it in Darwin. These are different strategies for different areas. For example …
Mrs Braham: Come on, minister. Do you really think these pensioners are the ones causing alcohol abuse? Come on, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Mr STIRLING: For example, the takeaway permit in Groote. We were there Monday and Tuesday as a Cabinet last week, and the signs are terrific, 12 months on since that was introduced. More recently, on the Tiwis, with the reduction down to mid-strength, the initial signs are terrific. Now, are we going to suggest we apply that in Alice Springs? I do not think so. But it works for Groote. The takeaway alcohol permit works for Groote; the reduction to mid-strength on the Tiwi Islands works for the Tiwi Islands. Is it an answer for Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy? Possibly not.
However, I do not rule out anything that comes forward by way of local area alcohol management plans. That is the idea of them, to get the views of the community on the table, no matter how unrealistic they are, because they will be robustly tested through the public process of hearings which the Licensing Commission is going through right now. We will have the alcohol management plan on the supply side once those issues are worked through and the Licensing Commission makes a decision on that. We will have that alcohol plan out in the public eye in the not too distant future.
Mrs Braham: Disappointing, minister. I will let them all know.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the misuse and abuse of alcohol across the Northern Territory is a major social challenge for this government. It has been for many years. We are determined, on any of the issues before us, to make a real dent in this over the next six to 12 months. There will be a lot of work in and around local alcohol management plans in the supply reduction strategies, demand reduction strategies and harm reduction strategies being brought into place if we win on those first two.
In relation to the question of hours and when this particular product might be sold, only yesterday morning, coming back in from the northern suburbs, I heard one licensee publicly on ABC radio making points about whether this was going to be effective or work for the community, and that is what the Licensing Commission is going through now; hearing those views of the licensees that objected to the proposal in the first place.
The Licensing Commission is made up of a group of reasonable minded people who will take into account the views put – that is why they have these public hearings – by the licensees and any negative effect on the community overall.
Mrs Braham: Will you introduce the same rule for Darwin?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker …
Dr Lim: Of course not!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, there is the bloke over the back who did nothing. In all the years he had an opportunity when he was in government as a minister, and he is saying: ‘Are you going to do it in Darwin?’
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: They have this little complex about Alice Springs versus Darwin, and you will never get it out of their heads. You will never, ever, and I do not even intend to try.
The fact is, these issues arise at the local level, and are put forward by the local community, who are best placed in what they see occurring on the ground, in the loss of amenity that people suffer as a result of alcohol abuse. That is why we are going through these local area alcohol management plans, and that is where these issues come up. Are we going to do it in Darwin, well no-one suggested it in Darwin. These are different strategies for different areas. For example …
Mrs Braham: Come on, minister. Do you really think these pensioners are the ones causing alcohol abuse? Come on, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Mr STIRLING: For example, the takeaway permit in Groote. We were there Monday and Tuesday as a Cabinet last week, and the signs are terrific, 12 months on since that was introduced. More recently, on the Tiwis, with the reduction down to mid-strength, the initial signs are terrific. Now, are we going to suggest we apply that in Alice Springs? I do not think so. But it works for Groote. The takeaway alcohol permit works for Groote; the reduction to mid-strength on the Tiwi Islands works for the Tiwi Islands. Is it an answer for Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy? Possibly not.
However, I do not rule out anything that comes forward by way of local area alcohol management plans. That is the idea of them, to get the views of the community on the table, no matter how unrealistic they are, because they will be robustly tested through the public process of hearings which the Licensing Commission is going through right now. We will have the alcohol management plan on the supply side once those issues are worked through and the Licensing Commission makes a decision on that. We will have that alcohol plan out in the public eye in the not too distant future.
Mrs Braham: Disappointing, minister. I will let them all know.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016