Mr GUNNER - 2010-10-28
Alcohol misuse places a significant burden on the health system. Can you please outline to the House how proposed alcohol reforms will help reduce the health costs associated with alcohol misuse?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his important question. We know alcohol misuse costs our community across the social spectrum. Territorians are drinking at 1.5 times the rate of other Australians. A study commissioned by the Menzies School of Health Research into the social and economic costs of alcohol misuse in the Territory estimates the total cost at $642m per year. This equates to $4197 per adult Territorian, running at four times the national average.
The report found alcohol continues to contribute to more deaths and hospitalisations in the Territory than anywhere else in Australia. The rate of alcohol-related admissions is double the national average. These admissions include treatment for chronic disease resulting directly from alcohol misuse, and the injuries our emergency department staff face as a direct result of alcohol-fuelled violence.
The facts are quite stark: 60% of all assaults in the Territory are alcohol related. Alcohol misuse is costing the whole community. This government’s alcohol reform, Enough is Enough, goes to the heart of these problems and targets the problem drinkers to turn them off tap.
The reforms have been welcomed as a direct health intervention. Dr John Boffa, a respected GP and a member of the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition in Alice Springs stated on ABC radio:
The treatment agencies of Amity Community Services, the NT Council of Social Service and FORWAARD, state these reforms:
That is a joint media release from those organisations issued on 2 September.
The reforms are targeted. They turn the problem drinkers off tap, we enforce these bans with the roll-out of a Territory-wide ID system, and we will mandate treatment. We will increase rehabilitation and treatment options in the community. We will invest further in community education campaigns to promote responsible drinking.
The CLP has clearly stated it does not support an ID system, which means it does not support enforcing alcohol bans. The key difference is, under their policy habitual drunks will continue to purchase as much alcohol as they like.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his important question. We know alcohol misuse costs our community across the social spectrum. Territorians are drinking at 1.5 times the rate of other Australians. A study commissioned by the Menzies School of Health Research into the social and economic costs of alcohol misuse in the Territory estimates the total cost at $642m per year. This equates to $4197 per adult Territorian, running at four times the national average.
The report found alcohol continues to contribute to more deaths and hospitalisations in the Territory than anywhere else in Australia. The rate of alcohol-related admissions is double the national average. These admissions include treatment for chronic disease resulting directly from alcohol misuse, and the injuries our emergency department staff face as a direct result of alcohol-fuelled violence.
The facts are quite stark: 60% of all assaults in the Territory are alcohol related. Alcohol misuse is costing the whole community. This government’s alcohol reform, Enough is Enough, goes to the heart of these problems and targets the problem drinkers to turn them off tap.
The reforms have been welcomed as a direct health intervention. Dr John Boffa, a respected GP and a member of the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition in Alice Springs stated on ABC radio:
- The government has dealt with the alcohol problem as a mental health problem outside the criminal justice system and they are to be commended for that.
The treatment agencies of Amity Community Services, the NT Council of Social Service and FORWAARD, state these reforms:
- … will result in a safer and healthier Territory.
That is a joint media release from those organisations issued on 2 September.
The reforms are targeted. They turn the problem drinkers off tap, we enforce these bans with the roll-out of a Territory-wide ID system, and we will mandate treatment. We will increase rehabilitation and treatment options in the community. We will invest further in community education campaigns to promote responsible drinking.
The CLP has clearly stated it does not support an ID system, which means it does not support enforcing alcohol bans. The key difference is, under their policy habitual drunks will continue to purchase as much alcohol as they like.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016