Ms ANDERSON - 2008-06-11
Can the minister inform the House whether local alcohol management plans and carefully targeted alcohol restrictions are having a positive effect in communities across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. There is no doubt that the abuse of alcohol is a major challenge for the Northern Territory - I have said that time and time again - to our health system, to our justice system, to family integrity and, as identified in the Little Children are Sacred Report, having an impact on Aboriginal communities right across the Northern Territory.
We have seen, and we have spoken in this parliament about the positive impact of alcohol restrictions and the licensing permit system in Groote Eylandt, resulting in a significant decrease in antisocial behaviour and crime, and a significant increase in people in full-time employment and attendance at such employment. We alluded earlier today to the exciting development at Dugong Beach and how that has opened up opportunities for many people on Groote Eylandt.
The member for Nhulunbuy and that region have been working on a permit system for some time. It has been a lot more complicated because, I suppose, of many reasons at Nhulunbuy - and we all acknowledge that. However, an electronic ID system has been implemented. It has had an almost immediate positive effect. In fact, the administrator of Gove said on radio recently that now they have a cleaner, safer and quieter town, and that is a very positive thing.
Alice Springs is a dry town, and has been for some time, with alcohol restrictions and implementation of an electronic ID system. It is very important to note that there has been a drop in pure alcohol sales in the quantities as measured by pure alcohol from the December quarter 2005 to the December quarter 2007; it is approximately 17%. Probably the most profound decrease has been cask wine which, of course, was a drink of choice and was targeted through the restrictions. By my calculations, there has been somewhere around a 90% reduction in cask sales as measured by pure alcohol.
These are targeted restrictions. We are trying to work closely with the community and, in Alice Springs, with the town council. The early results are positive. Alice Springs police pointed out that there has been a steep decline in the number of homicides this year in the Alice Springs region. In fact, Superintendent Parnell said: ‘This is good news for us’, and he said that these low homicide levels are: ‘… historically the lowest period we have probably ever had as far as I can remember’. So the police are acknowledging that homicides are down and, I believe, due in large part to alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs.
We acknowledge that there is more to do, Madam Speaker. We will be looking at this issue of alcohol and antisocial behaviour in quite a number of ways in coming times. This is a government that has taken steps regarding alcohol and its effects on our community, and we are prepared to take more steps.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. There is no doubt that the abuse of alcohol is a major challenge for the Northern Territory - I have said that time and time again - to our health system, to our justice system, to family integrity and, as identified in the Little Children are Sacred Report, having an impact on Aboriginal communities right across the Northern Territory.
We have seen, and we have spoken in this parliament about the positive impact of alcohol restrictions and the licensing permit system in Groote Eylandt, resulting in a significant decrease in antisocial behaviour and crime, and a significant increase in people in full-time employment and attendance at such employment. We alluded earlier today to the exciting development at Dugong Beach and how that has opened up opportunities for many people on Groote Eylandt.
The member for Nhulunbuy and that region have been working on a permit system for some time. It has been a lot more complicated because, I suppose, of many reasons at Nhulunbuy - and we all acknowledge that. However, an electronic ID system has been implemented. It has had an almost immediate positive effect. In fact, the administrator of Gove said on radio recently that now they have a cleaner, safer and quieter town, and that is a very positive thing.
Alice Springs is a dry town, and has been for some time, with alcohol restrictions and implementation of an electronic ID system. It is very important to note that there has been a drop in pure alcohol sales in the quantities as measured by pure alcohol from the December quarter 2005 to the December quarter 2007; it is approximately 17%. Probably the most profound decrease has been cask wine which, of course, was a drink of choice and was targeted through the restrictions. By my calculations, there has been somewhere around a 90% reduction in cask sales as measured by pure alcohol.
These are targeted restrictions. We are trying to work closely with the community and, in Alice Springs, with the town council. The early results are positive. Alice Springs police pointed out that there has been a steep decline in the number of homicides this year in the Alice Springs region. In fact, Superintendent Parnell said: ‘This is good news for us’, and he said that these low homicide levels are: ‘… historically the lowest period we have probably ever had as far as I can remember’. So the police are acknowledging that homicides are down and, I believe, due in large part to alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs.
We acknowledge that there is more to do, Madam Speaker. We will be looking at this issue of alcohol and antisocial behaviour in quite a number of ways in coming times. This is a government that has taken steps regarding alcohol and its effects on our community, and we are prepared to take more steps.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016