Mr BONSON - 2007-10-16
Territorians have expressed strong concerns about the unworkability of certain aspects of the Commonwealth intervention in the Northern Territory. Can the minister advise the House of any concerns expressed by Territorians about the new federal laws?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. When the laws first came in, which was in September, this was the headline in the Northern Territory News: ‘Blind Confusion’. It has not got any better. One thing that has changed is that there has been growing resentment and outrage by Territorians about certain elements of the grog laws that were introduced by Canberra, and Mal Brough in particular.
It is important to put on the record once again that as a government, we have always supported those elements of the federal intervention which will have a practical and effective result against child abuse and alcohol abuse in the Territory. However, we have always reserved the right to speak out about what is wrong with these laws on behalf of Territorians. We believe these laws, particularly some of the elements related to alcohol, have been policy on the run. There has been a complete lack of consultation about both their workability and their effectiveness, particularly in relation to the $100 or more takeaway rule.
Just to reflect some of the feelings of the alcohol industry on this matter, I will quote from statements they have made over the last few weeks, but I also put on the record that in my discussions with industry, they have made it very clear that they want to be part of the solution, but they want to be part of effective solutions. They want to join with government to find those effective solutions. They are not very happy with Mal Brough’s laws.
On the Morning program on ABC 105.7 on 27 September, Gary Howkins, Manager of the Arnhem Club, in relation to Mal Brough, said:
He also said what we have been saying for a while:
He was talking about people circumventing the law:
The Northern Territory News of 18 September 2007 quotes Chris Walker, Cazalys Palmerston Club Bottle Shop Manager:
Ron Townsend, Hidden Valley Tavern Manager, said hotel managers were being turned into ‘pseudo policemen’ and extra staff members were needed to ‘handle extra paperwork’.
Industry comments have roundly condemned this measure, and we are going to take that fight up on behalf of Territorians to Mal Brough and the federal government. We do not believe that a blanket approach is the appropriate way. We do not believe one-size-fits-all is appropriate for the Territory. We believe it breaches privacy rules, and it is little wonder that the current member for Solomon is trying to disown these silly and unpopular laws.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. When the laws first came in, which was in September, this was the headline in the Northern Territory News: ‘Blind Confusion’. It has not got any better. One thing that has changed is that there has been growing resentment and outrage by Territorians about certain elements of the grog laws that were introduced by Canberra, and Mal Brough in particular.
It is important to put on the record once again that as a government, we have always supported those elements of the federal intervention which will have a practical and effective result against child abuse and alcohol abuse in the Territory. However, we have always reserved the right to speak out about what is wrong with these laws on behalf of Territorians. We believe these laws, particularly some of the elements related to alcohol, have been policy on the run. There has been a complete lack of consultation about both their workability and their effectiveness, particularly in relation to the $100 or more takeaway rule.
Just to reflect some of the feelings of the alcohol industry on this matter, I will quote from statements they have made over the last few weeks, but I also put on the record that in my discussions with industry, they have made it very clear that they want to be part of the solution, but they want to be part of effective solutions. They want to join with government to find those effective solutions. They are not very happy with Mal Brough’s laws.
On the Morning program on ABC 105.7 on 27 September, Gary Howkins, Manager of the Arnhem Club, in relation to Mal Brough, said:
- Not even knowing that we had a permit system coming into Gove, a permit system that would be much better than his silly $100 law that he has brought out … Mal actually wants to do it his way or no way at all.
He also said what we have been saying for a while:
- I don’t think in the Territory a blanket fix fixes everything … It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. We are all just laughing. We are really laughing at it.’
He was talking about people circumventing the law:
- … but what they are doing is doing two spends. So they are not spending the $100. They might come and get the equivalent of $100 in two spends.
The Northern Territory News of 18 September 2007 quotes Chris Walker, Cazalys Palmerston Club Bottle Shop Manager:
- We certainly had a few people come in and say ‘What the hell do you want my address for?’
Ron Townsend, Hidden Valley Tavern Manager, said hotel managers were being turned into ‘pseudo policemen’ and extra staff members were needed to ‘handle extra paperwork’.
Industry comments have roundly condemned this measure, and we are going to take that fight up on behalf of Territorians to Mal Brough and the federal government. We do not believe that a blanket approach is the appropriate way. We do not believe one-size-fits-all is appropriate for the Territory. We believe it breaches privacy rules, and it is little wonder that the current member for Solomon is trying to disown these silly and unpopular laws.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016