Ms CARNEY - 2008-02-19
Are you aware that there are considerable failings with the dry town in Alice Springs? For example, here is the front page of last week’s Alice Springs News, headed, ‘Dry Town a Farce’. Many Alice Springs residents believe that the dry town is failing. They are seeing large groups of drinkers gathering in places around town where they have never been seen before, and they are stepping over empty cans and bottles regularly. Why is it failing? Do you agree that there is a need for significantly more police in Alice Springs to assist with this problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. In spite of the argy-bargy in the parliament over the years, I know she is a passionate advocate for her town. I do not believe that the dry areas legislation and other measures that this government has put into place in Alice Springs are failing. It is certainly early days, and we have seen some significant early gains, which I am sure my colleague, the Minister for Alcohol Policy, can talk about.
In the first nine months of the plan, we have seen a 10% reduction in the consumption of pure alcohol. That is almost 100 000 litres of pure alcohol that has not been consumed in Alice Springs that was being consumed. That is a very significant reduction. There is still a long way to go, and that is why we have comprehensive approaches in place regionally across the Northern Territory to deal with the tragedy that is occurring, destroying so many lives and so many families, around excessive alcohol consumption. There is no simple policy resolution to this issue. Improving education, housing and job opportunities, reducing supply of alcohol, better law enforcement and rehabilitation are all part of a very complex jigsaw in getting on top of this problem.
I am also advised that there has been a significant reduction in the number of serious assaults reported by police. This is corroborated by a reduction in admissions to Alice Springs Hospital for serious assault. These are the facts of the situation. Consumption is still high and we, as a government, are not going to take our eye off the ball. We will continue to work with communities across the Northern Territory to do everything we can to reduce and minimise the harm that is being done.
To say that the plan is failing, when we have seen 100 000 litres less alcohol consumed in Alice Springs - that is pure alcohol; an enormous quantity of alcohol - in nine months is a good start. There is a long way to go. We have a comprehensive approach to this problem, rather than being a policy-free zone, which the opposition is.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. In spite of the argy-bargy in the parliament over the years, I know she is a passionate advocate for her town. I do not believe that the dry areas legislation and other measures that this government has put into place in Alice Springs are failing. It is certainly early days, and we have seen some significant early gains, which I am sure my colleague, the Minister for Alcohol Policy, can talk about.
In the first nine months of the plan, we have seen a 10% reduction in the consumption of pure alcohol. That is almost 100 000 litres of pure alcohol that has not been consumed in Alice Springs that was being consumed. That is a very significant reduction. There is still a long way to go, and that is why we have comprehensive approaches in place regionally across the Northern Territory to deal with the tragedy that is occurring, destroying so many lives and so many families, around excessive alcohol consumption. There is no simple policy resolution to this issue. Improving education, housing and job opportunities, reducing supply of alcohol, better law enforcement and rehabilitation are all part of a very complex jigsaw in getting on top of this problem.
I am also advised that there has been a significant reduction in the number of serious assaults reported by police. This is corroborated by a reduction in admissions to Alice Springs Hospital for serious assault. These are the facts of the situation. Consumption is still high and we, as a government, are not going to take our eye off the ball. We will continue to work with communities across the Northern Territory to do everything we can to reduce and minimise the harm that is being done.
To say that the plan is failing, when we have seen 100 000 litres less alcohol consumed in Alice Springs - that is pure alcohol; an enormous quantity of alcohol - in nine months is a good start. There is a long way to go. We have a comprehensive approach to this problem, rather than being a policy-free zone, which the opposition is.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016