Ms WALKER - 2009-10-13
Can you please update the House on the government’s efforts to cut serious crime in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I know, with the management plans and restrictions Nhulunbuy has in place, that I have seen a real success story in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence in Nhulunbuy.
It is an important issue in Alice Springs. We saw in the latest crime statistics that 65.5% of assaults in Alice Springs in the last year were alcohol-related. Clearly, this is unacceptably high levels of alcohol-related violence. That is one of the reasons why this government took tough action and introduced innovative alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs. An independent report by the Menzies School of Health Research clearly demonstrated that not only do the restrictions cut alcohol consumption …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … but they cut serious crime. On the day the Menzies report was released, the member for Greatorex, who has just been chuckling in the corner, said on 8HA, that people were less aggressive as a result of liquor not being available before 2 pm. He said the evidence in the report could not be ignored. Yet, the member for Araluen has completely ignored it. She has introduced a motion calling for takeaway sales to start at 10 am – four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: Four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday. This can only lead to one thing: more alcohol on the streets of Alice Springs and, as clear as night follows day, this will lead to more crime – more alcohol-fuelled vicious crime in Alice Springs if the member for Araluen pursues her motion. More violence, more assaults, and, sadly, more domestic violence. It is staggering to think that the member for Araluen believes that selling cheap cask wine at 10 am is a responsible thing to do.
If the Leader of the Opposition has any leadership, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw this ridiculous motion …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are useless!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We will …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: … after an evaluation of the policy used in Alice Springs. If he has any leadership whatsoever, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw her motion.
Our Labor government will continue to fight alcohol abuse and the devastation that this wreaks in our communities.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I know, with the management plans and restrictions Nhulunbuy has in place, that I have seen a real success story in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence in Nhulunbuy.
It is an important issue in Alice Springs. We saw in the latest crime statistics that 65.5% of assaults in Alice Springs in the last year were alcohol-related. Clearly, this is unacceptably high levels of alcohol-related violence. That is one of the reasons why this government took tough action and introduced innovative alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs. An independent report by the Menzies School of Health Research clearly demonstrated that not only do the restrictions cut alcohol consumption …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … but they cut serious crime. On the day the Menzies report was released, the member for Greatorex, who has just been chuckling in the corner, said on 8HA, that people were less aggressive as a result of liquor not being available before 2 pm. He said the evidence in the report could not be ignored. Yet, the member for Araluen has completely ignored it. She has introduced a motion calling for takeaway sales to start at 10 am – four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: Four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday. This can only lead to one thing: more alcohol on the streets of Alice Springs and, as clear as night follows day, this will lead to more crime – more alcohol-fuelled vicious crime in Alice Springs if the member for Araluen pursues her motion. More violence, more assaults, and, sadly, more domestic violence. It is staggering to think that the member for Araluen believes that selling cheap cask wine at 10 am is a responsible thing to do.
If the Leader of the Opposition has any leadership, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw this ridiculous motion …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are useless!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We will …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: … after an evaluation of the policy used in Alice Springs. If he has any leadership whatsoever, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw her motion.
Our Labor government will continue to fight alcohol abuse and the devastation that this wreaks in our communities.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016