Ms ANDERSON - 2007-06-19
The government is working with the police, non-government organisations and the community to overcome crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs. Can you inform the House about the upcoming Social Order Summit in Alice Springs and how it will contribute to the safety and security of everyone living in or visiting Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question because I know the future of Alice Springs, the safety and security of those living there, is of high concern for her and her commitment is very strong to that. At the Alice Springs sitting, I said that we would hold a Social Order Summit so the Alice Springs community could be heard and they could find out about all the initiatives government is putting into place to tackle antisocial behaviour to make Alice Springs a safer place.
I know that many people in Alice Springs want to have their say and they have really good ideas and want to help create a safer Alice Springs. We do not want to just have another talkfest. That is why there is a series of meetings before this summit is held to gather ideas from specific people and groups. It certainly gives more people in Alice Springs a chance to participate in the work up to the summit. Between today and 27 June, we will be holding separate meetings for the business community, Aboriginal organisations, government agencies, youth and youth service providers, concerned individuals and organisations and, importantly, for representatives from remote communities across Central Australia. There will be a number of different meetings leading up to the summit.
There will be delegates from each meeting who will be invited to the summit in Alice, which will be held later in July. Remembering that the new public dry areas legislation comes into place on 1 August - one of this government’s really well targeted initiatives to tackle the problems we have with antisocial behaviour - we need to get this information across and these ideas collected before that significant time for Alice Springs.
I am confident that local input will ensure the outcomes of the summit are targeted, practical and achievable. Together, government working with the Alice Springs community can build on the significant work that is already under way and make a real difference to Alice Springs and its future. Invitations have been sent out, and I look forward to meeting as many people as possible at that summit, and developing plans for the future of Alice Springs. It is a critical issue.
With some of the initiatives in place that have been worked on over the last 18 months, we are already starting to see that alcohol consumption is down in Alice Springs. If you compare the March quarter in Alice Springs with the quarter from the previous year, we have seen a 10% reduction in the amount of pure alcohol being drunk in Alice Springs. That is the equivalent of 13 000 litres of pure alcohol. With changes to takeaway hours and what products can be bought at what hours, and with the complementary measures, we are starting to see a small step. It is 10% reduction and there is a long way to go. There is some significant change in alcohol consumption. We have not seen the latest hospital admission figures, and I am looking forward to seeing those.
However, much work is taking place in Alice Springs to turn around the problems of antisocial behaviour and make Alice Springs a safer place to be. It is a lot of work. We are very committed to this. The summit at the end of July will be a very important line in the sand for Alice Springs. Behaviour in Alice Springs is changing, safety is of paramount concern. We will get the damage from alcohol consumption right down for the community of Alice Springs and Central Australia.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question because I know the future of Alice Springs, the safety and security of those living there, is of high concern for her and her commitment is very strong to that. At the Alice Springs sitting, I said that we would hold a Social Order Summit so the Alice Springs community could be heard and they could find out about all the initiatives government is putting into place to tackle antisocial behaviour to make Alice Springs a safer place.
I know that many people in Alice Springs want to have their say and they have really good ideas and want to help create a safer Alice Springs. We do not want to just have another talkfest. That is why there is a series of meetings before this summit is held to gather ideas from specific people and groups. It certainly gives more people in Alice Springs a chance to participate in the work up to the summit. Between today and 27 June, we will be holding separate meetings for the business community, Aboriginal organisations, government agencies, youth and youth service providers, concerned individuals and organisations and, importantly, for representatives from remote communities across Central Australia. There will be a number of different meetings leading up to the summit.
There will be delegates from each meeting who will be invited to the summit in Alice, which will be held later in July. Remembering that the new public dry areas legislation comes into place on 1 August - one of this government’s really well targeted initiatives to tackle the problems we have with antisocial behaviour - we need to get this information across and these ideas collected before that significant time for Alice Springs.
I am confident that local input will ensure the outcomes of the summit are targeted, practical and achievable. Together, government working with the Alice Springs community can build on the significant work that is already under way and make a real difference to Alice Springs and its future. Invitations have been sent out, and I look forward to meeting as many people as possible at that summit, and developing plans for the future of Alice Springs. It is a critical issue.
With some of the initiatives in place that have been worked on over the last 18 months, we are already starting to see that alcohol consumption is down in Alice Springs. If you compare the March quarter in Alice Springs with the quarter from the previous year, we have seen a 10% reduction in the amount of pure alcohol being drunk in Alice Springs. That is the equivalent of 13 000 litres of pure alcohol. With changes to takeaway hours and what products can be bought at what hours, and with the complementary measures, we are starting to see a small step. It is 10% reduction and there is a long way to go. There is some significant change in alcohol consumption. We have not seen the latest hospital admission figures, and I am looking forward to seeing those.
However, much work is taking place in Alice Springs to turn around the problems of antisocial behaviour and make Alice Springs a safer place to be. It is a lot of work. We are very committed to this. The summit at the end of July will be a very important line in the sand for Alice Springs. Behaviour in Alice Springs is changing, safety is of paramount concern. We will get the damage from alcohol consumption right down for the community of Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016