Mrs BRAHAM - 2007-08-28
The federal banning of alcohol on Aboriginal land and town camps has raised a number of concerns. The Tangentyere Council President, Walter Shaw, has slammed the legislation, saying that people who live in their own homes and on town camps should have the right to drink, the same as other residents in Alice Springs. Do you support the federal government’s intervention and this legislation which does not allow people in town camps to drink alcohol in their own homes, or do you agree with Walter Shaw that they should be allowed to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I believe we have to get this in perspective. In the Little Children are Sacred Report, the authors talked about the rivers of grog, they talked about child sexual abuse and the role of alcohol in that, and they made quite a number of recommendations. As the House would be aware, I proposed a six-month ban on drinking in town camps prior to the federal government making their announcement that they would roll it out across the Territory with an uncertain time frame.
In direct answer to your question, member for Braitling, I support the ban on drinking in people’s houses in those areas. I believe it is a way forward to try to bring some sanity, to try to bring the drunks under control.
Mrs Braham: So you are saying they are all drunks?
Dr BURNS: I am answering your question, member for Braitling. I believe we need to be very strong on this. The Wild/Anderson report recommended very strong action. The federal government has undertaken a range of actions on alcohol and alcohol restrictions which, generally, as a government, we agree with. However, I lay it on the record here again: one thing we do not agree with is this 1350 ml limit where people have to have their names recorded. We do not believe that is going to work. We have some other question marks about people being able to take alcohol through Aboriginal land and on waterways etcetera, but essentially we are in agreement with the federal government. We have worked very hard at an officer level to ensure that our laws harmonise with what is being introduced by the federal government.
Mrs Braham: So people who work in town camps cannot have a beer when they come home from work?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I believe we have to get this in perspective. In the Little Children are Sacred Report, the authors talked about the rivers of grog, they talked about child sexual abuse and the role of alcohol in that, and they made quite a number of recommendations. As the House would be aware, I proposed a six-month ban on drinking in town camps prior to the federal government making their announcement that they would roll it out across the Territory with an uncertain time frame.
In direct answer to your question, member for Braitling, I support the ban on drinking in people’s houses in those areas. I believe it is a way forward to try to bring some sanity, to try to bring the drunks under control.
Mrs Braham: So you are saying they are all drunks?
Dr BURNS: I am answering your question, member for Braitling. I believe we need to be very strong on this. The Wild/Anderson report recommended very strong action. The federal government has undertaken a range of actions on alcohol and alcohol restrictions which, generally, as a government, we agree with. However, I lay it on the record here again: one thing we do not agree with is this 1350 ml limit where people have to have their names recorded. We do not believe that is going to work. We have some other question marks about people being able to take alcohol through Aboriginal land and on waterways etcetera, but essentially we are in agreement with the federal government. We have worked very hard at an officer level to ensure that our laws harmonise with what is being introduced by the federal government.
Mrs Braham: So people who work in town camps cannot have a beer when they come home from work?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016