Mr McADAM - 2004-08-25
Can the minister advise the Assembly whether any decisions have already been made by government on recommendations from the Manzie/Ah Chee report on the Alcohol Framework?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. He shares a strong interest in these matters as me, as they affect his community, along with all the communities across the Territory.
Yes, the government has made a decision up-front on one of the 62 recommendations contained within the report. It is recommendation 59, in and around Sunday trading. The government has made the decision that it will not further pursue this issue of Sunday trading and will make no change to the existing arrangements.
Recommendation 59 recommended that government defer any further consideration around the question of Sunday trading until some 12 months after the Alcohol Framework had been put in place. That is really arguing for, perhaps, some two to two-and-a-half years into the future before that decision would be re-visited. They recommended getting the framework in place for at least 12 months; have a look at the impact that that has, and the recommendations that government has adopted on the sale of these cheap high-alcohol-content products; and then have a look at the question of Sunday trading.
Government has rejected that recommendation 59, and we do so for this reason: we believe the status quo as it operates now in relation to Sunday trading is in the best interests of the Territory. I go back to that first principal that I stated before: minimising the amount of alcohol abuse and the social unrest, harm and trauma that comes from that but, at the same time, absolutely minimising the impact that would have on responsible drinkers throughout the Northern Territory. It would not seem fair, on the one hand, if you were to put an argument to say we will just close it altogether on Sunday, then the tourists and everyone in the Territory would, under those circumstances, not be able to purchase takeaway alcohol on Sunday. You immediately have a punitive effect on everyone who handles alcohol responsibly, for the minority who do not. We believe the status quo best achieves that very important balance that I talked about: minimising harm whilst not disadvantaging responsible drinking in the community.
Every one of the other 61 recommendations are open for community discussion and consultation by key stakeholders, as I said - indeed, all interested parties throughout the Territory and the community. Any comments on the report can be made up until 15 October.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. He shares a strong interest in these matters as me, as they affect his community, along with all the communities across the Territory.
Yes, the government has made a decision up-front on one of the 62 recommendations contained within the report. It is recommendation 59, in and around Sunday trading. The government has made the decision that it will not further pursue this issue of Sunday trading and will make no change to the existing arrangements.
Recommendation 59 recommended that government defer any further consideration around the question of Sunday trading until some 12 months after the Alcohol Framework had been put in place. That is really arguing for, perhaps, some two to two-and-a-half years into the future before that decision would be re-visited. They recommended getting the framework in place for at least 12 months; have a look at the impact that that has, and the recommendations that government has adopted on the sale of these cheap high-alcohol-content products; and then have a look at the question of Sunday trading.
Government has rejected that recommendation 59, and we do so for this reason: we believe the status quo as it operates now in relation to Sunday trading is in the best interests of the Territory. I go back to that first principal that I stated before: minimising the amount of alcohol abuse and the social unrest, harm and trauma that comes from that but, at the same time, absolutely minimising the impact that would have on responsible drinkers throughout the Northern Territory. It would not seem fair, on the one hand, if you were to put an argument to say we will just close it altogether on Sunday, then the tourists and everyone in the Territory would, under those circumstances, not be able to purchase takeaway alcohol on Sunday. You immediately have a punitive effect on everyone who handles alcohol responsibly, for the minority who do not. We believe the status quo best achieves that very important balance that I talked about: minimising harm whilst not disadvantaging responsible drinking in the community.
Every one of the other 61 recommendations are open for community discussion and consultation by key stakeholders, as I said - indeed, all interested parties throughout the Territory and the community. Any comments on the report can be made up until 15 October.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016