Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2009-11-24
Today’s Centralian Advocate reported on the outcomes of the recent Menzies School of Health Research review of local supply measures. Can you provide any further detail on the independent review of the Alice Springs Alcohol Management Plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very important question. This morning, we heard the Mayor of Alice Springs referring to the Todd River, a dry river. There are many more rivers running in Alice Springs; they are the rivers of grog.
Since 1975, many reports have highlighted the problems in Alice Springs. In 1975, Wauchope published a report titled 40 Gallons a Head, which was referring to 40.9 gallons of beer consumed per person in Alice Springs. In 1990, Pamela Lyons produced another report highlighting that the consumption of pure alcohol in Alice Springs was 27.1 litres of pure alcohol per person, per year. In 1999, another report found that 23.8 litres of pure alcohol was consumed per year, per person over 15 years old in Alice Springs.
These are the rivers of grog and we have to do something about it. We have to stem their flow.
Our government is the first government to put measures in place to stem the flow of the rivers of grog. This is the only place in Australia, and wisely so, that there is a restriction on the purchase of cask and fortified wines; you cannot buy them until after 6 pm. Opening time is 2 pm for takeaway alcohol from Monday to Friday; 10 am to 9 pm on Saturdays; and 12 noon to 9 pm on Sundays.
In the six months to 30 June this year, the ID system we put in place detected more than 3800 attempts to buy restricted alcohol in Alice Springs. That translates to a reduction of 22 casks of wine sold in Alice Springs. The overall results are impressive. We have seen an overall reduction in pure alcohol by 18%. If you want to put that into perspective, it is 5.2 million cans of full strength beer. That is a significant reduction, or even better, 50 000 fewer cans of full strength beer sold in Alice Springs. We have seen an 85% reduction in wine cask sales. Sales of four litre casks in Alice Springs have reduced by 330 per day, which is a significant number. We are the first government ever to take the tough decisions to restrict the sale of alcohol in Alice Springs.
We know very well that alcohol brings misery, and brings misery not only to the people who consume it, but to the community, their partners, and their children.
Our government is prepared to act tough.
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do think it is worth reminding the Minister for Alcohol Policy of the Living with Alcohol policy introduced by the Country Liberal government.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Conlan: You are certainly not the first government to ever do it.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: As I said, we are the first government to introduce tough restrictions on sales in Alice Springs. We will continue to do so. Our actions have been justified. They have been justified by the Menzies School of Health Research report which said yes, restriction of supply reduces alcohol and alcohol problems in Alice Springs.
We are the first government to build a dam to stem flow of the rivers of grog in Alice Springs. The opposition now wants to open the flood gates by bring back opening hours to 10 am.
Dr BURNS (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 her very important question. This morning, we heard the Mayor of Alice Springs referring to the Todd River, a dry river. There are many more rivers running in Alice Springs; they are the rivers of grog.
Since 1975, many reports have highlighted the problems in Alice Springs. In 1975, Wauchope published a report titled 40 Gallons a Head, which was referring to 40.9 gallons of beer consumed per person in Alice Springs. In 1990, Pamela Lyons produced another report highlighting that the consumption of pure alcohol in Alice Springs was 27.1 litres of pure alcohol per person, per year. In 1999, another report found that 23.8 litres of pure alcohol was consumed per year, per person over 15 years old in Alice Springs.
These are the rivers of grog and we have to do something about it. We have to stem their flow.
Our government is the first government to put measures in place to stem the flow of the rivers of grog. This is the only place in Australia, and wisely so, that there is a restriction on the purchase of cask and fortified wines; you cannot buy them until after 6 pm. Opening time is 2 pm for takeaway alcohol from Monday to Friday; 10 am to 9 pm on Saturdays; and 12 noon to 9 pm on Sundays.
In the six months to 30 June this year, the ID system we put in place detected more than 3800 attempts to buy restricted alcohol in Alice Springs. That translates to a reduction of 22 casks of wine sold in Alice Springs. The overall results are impressive. We have seen an overall reduction in pure alcohol by 18%. If you want to put that into perspective, it is 5.2 million cans of full strength beer. That is a significant reduction, or even better, 50 000 fewer cans of full strength beer sold in Alice Springs. We have seen an 85% reduction in wine cask sales. Sales of four litre casks in Alice Springs have reduced by 330 per day, which is a significant number. We are the first government ever to take the tough decisions to restrict the sale of alcohol in Alice Springs.
We know very well that alcohol brings misery, and brings misery not only to the people who consume it, but to the community, their partners, and their children.
Our government is prepared to act tough.
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do think it is worth reminding the Minister for Alcohol Policy of the Living with Alcohol policy introduced by the Country Liberal government.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Conlan: You are certainly not the first government to ever do it.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: As I said, we are the first government to introduce tough restrictions on sales in Alice Springs. We will continue to do so. Our actions have been justified. They have been justified by the Menzies School of Health Research report which said yes, restriction of supply reduces alcohol and alcohol problems in Alice Springs.
We are the first government to build a dam to stem flow of the rivers of grog in Alice Springs. The opposition now wants to open the flood gates by bring back opening hours to 10 am.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016