Ms WALKER - 2011-10-18
Key to the alcohol reforms is the Banned Drinker Register to turn problem drinkers off tap. Can you please update the House on the impact the Banned Drinker Register has had on reducing alcohol-related crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy who understands just how important these reforms are in turning lives around and making our community safer. We are leading the nation in our comprehensive holistic approach to alcohol reforms. We are turning the problem drinkers off tap. We are enforcing those bans through the Banned Drinker Register, but without criminalising chronic alcoholism.
Although I stress it is only early days yet, I am pleased to report that, after three months of operation of the Banned Drinker Register, it is having an impact on reducing alcohol-fuelled assaults. We have more than 1500 Territorians on the Banned Drinker Register. Preliminary data extracted from the police PROMIS system shows that, as at 1 October - and that was information tabled in parliament today by the Chief Minister - alcohol-related assaults have dropped by 15% across the Territory. If you look at all those regional centres, there are significant drops in alcohol-related assaults.
The exception to that is Nhulunbuy. As I explained yesterday, Nhulunbuy does not yet have a Banned Drinker Register tool in place; it is still operating under the permit system. Our government has a tender out to ensure we have the IT solution to link the permit systems in East Arnhem - which are good alcohol management plan-operated systems - with the Banned Drinker Register. That will be in place early next year. Nhulunbuy is the standout in significant drops. All regional centres, including Darwin, had significant drops in alcohol-fuelled assaults.
Based on this preliminary data, that 15% drop equates to some 164 fewer victims of alcohol-fuelled violence due to the reforms that came in on 1 July. Police have very strong support for these tools. Yesterday, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mark Payne, stated:
The Assistant Police Commissioner also stated he would like to see the initiative continue:
The government brought in these tough new laws. Police say it is the best tool they have ever been equipped with to fight crime and alcohol-fuelled violence, but the opposition remains committed to stripping these tools away. Yet we see at this important regional level that the BDR has resulted in a 20% drop in alcohol-fuelled assault in Darwin; a 23% drop in Palmerston; a 17% drop in Alice Springs; a 15.8% drop in Katherine; and a 19.5% drop in Tennant Creek ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy who understands just how important these reforms are in turning lives around and making our community safer. We are leading the nation in our comprehensive holistic approach to alcohol reforms. We are turning the problem drinkers off tap. We are enforcing those bans through the Banned Drinker Register, but without criminalising chronic alcoholism.
Although I stress it is only early days yet, I am pleased to report that, after three months of operation of the Banned Drinker Register, it is having an impact on reducing alcohol-fuelled assaults. We have more than 1500 Territorians on the Banned Drinker Register. Preliminary data extracted from the police PROMIS system shows that, as at 1 October - and that was information tabled in parliament today by the Chief Minister - alcohol-related assaults have dropped by 15% across the Territory. If you look at all those regional centres, there are significant drops in alcohol-related assaults.
The exception to that is Nhulunbuy. As I explained yesterday, Nhulunbuy does not yet have a Banned Drinker Register tool in place; it is still operating under the permit system. Our government has a tender out to ensure we have the IT solution to link the permit systems in East Arnhem - which are good alcohol management plan-operated systems - with the Banned Drinker Register. That will be in place early next year. Nhulunbuy is the standout in significant drops. All regional centres, including Darwin, had significant drops in alcohol-fuelled assaults.
Based on this preliminary data, that 15% drop equates to some 164 fewer victims of alcohol-fuelled violence due to the reforms that came in on 1 July. Police have very strong support for these tools. Yesterday, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mark Payne, stated:
- … police did see it as one of the most powerful tools if not the most powerful tool available to police to actually deal with the source problem of antisocial behaviour and the violence that was occurring in the community. I think these early indicators prove that the initiative is working.
The Assistant Police Commissioner also stated he would like to see the initiative continue:
- From a policing point of view we see some tremendous results from this initiative.
The government brought in these tough new laws. Police say it is the best tool they have ever been equipped with to fight crime and alcohol-fuelled violence, but the opposition remains committed to stripping these tools away. Yet we see at this important regional level that the BDR has resulted in a 20% drop in alcohol-fuelled assault in Darwin; a 23% drop in Palmerston; a 17% drop in Alice Springs; a 15.8% drop in Katherine; and a 19.5% drop in Tennant Creek ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016