Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2011-05-05
Can you please outline to the House the government’s commitment to tackling alcohol-related crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. In the Northern Territory, 60% of all assaults are alcohol-related. It is very clear: if you are not tackling alcohol, you are not tackling crime. It is not just crime; the scourge of alcohol--related violence and neglect of children hits the health budget, stops kids going to school, and increases the vulnerability of children throughout the Northern Territory. In fact, every aspect of our society is adversely affected by the abuse of alcohol. The figures show - and they are somewhat dated now – it costs us over $640m a year. That is why we are introducing the toughest alcohol measures this nation has ever seen; a five-point plan to tackle alcohol and crime. These are the toughest alcohol laws in the country.
The reality is, if you do not break the law, if you are not a nuisance, nothing is going to change. Under our reforms, if you commit alcohol-related crime, or you are repeatedly taken into protective custody, you will be banned from accessing alcohol. Treatment will be mandated, with services expanded with $67m invested over five years. We will be introducing a banned drinkers register to ensure the bans on purchasing alcohol will be enforced. Nothing changes unless you have a ban.
Perversely, the CLP oppose the banned drinkers register. The CLP wants to see people continue to have access to alcohol. People who abuse alcohol will continue to have access to alcohol under the CLP plans. The CLP opposes enforcing alcohol bans on people who commit alcohol-related crime. If they oppose the register …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If they oppose the register, they oppose the ban on people, and people will keep drinking. Who can forget …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to represent the facts honestly. He is not doing so. I ask that you instruct him to do so.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: A point or order, Madam Speaker! If the Chief Minister is ignorant of the Country Liberals’ position then he should seek a briefing.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. That is not a point of order, member for Fong Lim; you know that. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: It is a fact that the CLP opposes the banned drinkers register. If you do not have a register, how can you be banned …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: If you do not have a register, you cannot be banned. The opposition likes to talk about crime, but it is soft on alcohol, therefore it is soft on alcohol-related crime. The CLP will continue to see people who should be banned …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … from accessing alcohol continue to drink and continue to commit crime …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. In the Northern Territory, 60% of all assaults are alcohol-related. It is very clear: if you are not tackling alcohol, you are not tackling crime. It is not just crime; the scourge of alcohol--related violence and neglect of children hits the health budget, stops kids going to school, and increases the vulnerability of children throughout the Northern Territory. In fact, every aspect of our society is adversely affected by the abuse of alcohol. The figures show - and they are somewhat dated now – it costs us over $640m a year. That is why we are introducing the toughest alcohol measures this nation has ever seen; a five-point plan to tackle alcohol and crime. These are the toughest alcohol laws in the country.
The reality is, if you do not break the law, if you are not a nuisance, nothing is going to change. Under our reforms, if you commit alcohol-related crime, or you are repeatedly taken into protective custody, you will be banned from accessing alcohol. Treatment will be mandated, with services expanded with $67m invested over five years. We will be introducing a banned drinkers register to ensure the bans on purchasing alcohol will be enforced. Nothing changes unless you have a ban.
Perversely, the CLP oppose the banned drinkers register. The CLP wants to see people continue to have access to alcohol. People who abuse alcohol will continue to have access to alcohol under the CLP plans. The CLP opposes enforcing alcohol bans on people who commit alcohol-related crime. If they oppose the register …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If they oppose the register, they oppose the ban on people, and people will keep drinking. Who can forget …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to represent the facts honestly. He is not doing so. I ask that you instruct him to do so.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: A point or order, Madam Speaker! If the Chief Minister is ignorant of the Country Liberals’ position then he should seek a briefing.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. That is not a point of order, member for Fong Lim; you know that. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: It is a fact that the CLP opposes the banned drinkers register. If you do not have a register, how can you be banned …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: If you do not have a register, you cannot be banned. The opposition likes to talk about crime, but it is soft on alcohol, therefore it is soft on alcohol-related crime. The CLP will continue to see people who should be banned …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … from accessing alcohol continue to drink and continue to commit crime …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016