❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the positive impacts of liquor restrictions in regional WA, particularly the Kimberley, and seeks information on opposition to these restrictions. The Minister highlights positive outcomes like reduced crime and family violence.
AnsweredQoN 834Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS —
KIMBERLEY
834. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to keeping the Western Australian community safe.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the positive impacts that liquor restrictions have
had in regional Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone advocating for reduced
liquor restrictions that will place the community at a greater risk?
KIMBERLEY
834. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to keeping the Western Australian community safe.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the positive impacts that liquor restrictions have
had in regional Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone advocating for reduced
liquor restrictions that will place the community at a greater risk?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question.
I point out that I am responding both in my capacity as Minister for Racing and
Gaming but also as Minister for Police as there is a fair bit of police
response associated with the answer.
(1) With respect of what is happening and the positive
impacts of liquor restrictions in regional Western Australia, I will
focus a lot on the Kimberley because that is where real action has occurred
since 11 June, when the Director of Liquor
Licensing imposed restrictions on takeaway alcohol in Broome and Derby. At that
time , reduced daily trading was introduced in Broome from 12 o'clock
until 8.00 pm and purchase limitations on packaged liquor were also introduced.
There is no takeaway alcohol allowed on Sundays and Mondays. It was a big
change and replicated what had happened in Carnarvon for some time. I can say
that there is a lot of police activity associated with those restrictions.
There are high-visibility policing patrols looking for sly grogging between
Broome and Derby. There are high-visibility policing patrols in Broome and
Derby around high-harm areas, focusing on unlawful dealing of alcohol, unlawful
consumption of alcohol and antisocial behaviour. Mobile automatic numberplate
recognition cameras have been put out between Broome, Derby and Fitzroy to
build intelligence on vehicles travelling around and the nature of their
travelling with respect of the potential for sly grogging. They utilised a lot
of media platform messaging to get the message across to communities about what
is happening and to warn people about sly grogging. There is engagement with shires, Aboriginal corporations, liquor accords
and the Department of Education to deliver positive community
engagement. There is high-visibility patrolling of licensed premises to ensure
compliance, and attendance of liquor-restricted premises where people voluntarily
imposed liquor restrictions on their households to ensure they are able to
support those people to comply. They have worked
with delivery agencies like Australia Post to tackle sly grogging and they also
supported Kimberley transport services and engaged with taxi services
and regulators associated with sly grogging.
All that has resulted in some
positive outcomes. In Broome, alcohol-related offences against a person are
down 29 per cent, offences against property are down 50 per cent, family
violence is down 10 per cent and police
call-outs are down 10 per cent. In Derby, offences against a person are down 38
per cent, offences against property are down 29 per cent, family
violence is down 28 per cent and police call-outs are down 15 per cent. In Fitzroy Crossing, where no
takeaway alcohol is already a restriction, and which is vulnerable to
sly grogging from other sources—predominantly, one might speculate,
Broome and Derby—offences against a person are down 50 per cent, family
violence is down 40 per cent and police call-outs are down 23 per cent.
Liquor
restrictions are undeniably having a positive impact. There have been some
really positive outcomes across the
Pilbara and goldfields with the banned drinkers register, takeaway alcohol
management systems and collaboration
with the liquor accords in those locations. Only this morning, the Commissioner
of Police was on ABC radio, and I understand that he said there has been
a reduction in Carnarvon since alcohol restrictions were enforced. The benefits
are stark and very clear.
(2) I assume
liquor restrictions would have the support of everyone in the chamber on all
sides of politics. I would assume the Liberal
Party would support those liquor restrictions and the positive benefit that
they have realised. However, if members ask me whether I am aware of
anyone who is suggesting they do not support liquor restrictions in the
regions, I can tell members that only on last Sunday, Joe Spagnolo of The
Sunday Times was doing one of his weekly spotlights on candidates for the
election, and the member for North West Central was the focus. It was her
moment to shine. It was her platform. She was asked specifically —
Do you agree
with the liquor restrictions that have been imposed in Carnarvon?
I
am assuming that she sought guidance from the Leader of the Liberal Party on
this response because I am sure that a candidate who is a member of
Parliament and has been here for a little while and is going to an election, and is not just one of the crazy
candidates out there, would understand the need for discipline to comply
with party policy in the lead-up to the election. She said —
There is a need for restrictions, but
I think the level of restrictions is questionable.
She is suggesting they are too tight.
Leader of the Liberal Party, am I to assume that the Liberal Party will roll
back liquor restrictions in Carnarvon, Derby and Broome? Is that what I can
assume?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr P. PAPALIA : Perhaps I should
ask again: was the member for North West Central consulting with a leader but
not necessarily the leader resident in the chamber? If that is the case, I ask
again of the aspirant leader of the Liberal
Party, the candidate for Churchlands. You have 10 points, my friend, in 10
commandments on Friday; maybe you can add another one: do you agree with
the liquor restrictions in Broome and Derby, or will you roll back those ones
as well?
I point out that I am responding both in my capacity as Minister for Racing and
Gaming but also as Minister for Police as there is a fair bit of police
response associated with the answer.
(1) With respect of what is happening and the positive
impacts of liquor restrictions in regional Western Australia, I will
focus a lot on the Kimberley because that is where real action has occurred
since 11 June, when the Director of Liquor
Licensing imposed restrictions on takeaway alcohol in Broome and Derby. At that
time , reduced daily trading was introduced in Broome from 12 o'clock
until 8.00 pm and purchase limitations on packaged liquor were also introduced.
There is no takeaway alcohol allowed on Sundays and Mondays. It was a big
change and replicated what had happened in Carnarvon for some time. I can say
that there is a lot of police activity associated with those restrictions.
There are high-visibility policing patrols looking for sly grogging between
Broome and Derby. There are high-visibility policing patrols in Broome and
Derby around high-harm areas, focusing on unlawful dealing of alcohol, unlawful
consumption of alcohol and antisocial behaviour. Mobile automatic numberplate
recognition cameras have been put out between Broome, Derby and Fitzroy to
build intelligence on vehicles travelling around and the nature of their
travelling with respect of the potential for sly grogging. They utilised a lot
of media platform messaging to get the message across to communities about what
is happening and to warn people about sly grogging. There is engagement with shires, Aboriginal corporations, liquor accords
and the Department of Education to deliver positive community
engagement. There is high-visibility patrolling of licensed premises to ensure
compliance, and attendance of liquor-restricted premises where people voluntarily
imposed liquor restrictions on their households to ensure they are able to
support those people to comply. They have worked
with delivery agencies like Australia Post to tackle sly grogging and they also
supported Kimberley transport services and engaged with taxi services
and regulators associated with sly grogging.
All that has resulted in some
positive outcomes. In Broome, alcohol-related offences against a person are
down 29 per cent, offences against property are down 50 per cent, family
violence is down 10 per cent and police
call-outs are down 10 per cent. In Derby, offences against a person are down 38
per cent, offences against property are down 29 per cent, family
violence is down 28 per cent and police call-outs are down 15 per cent. In Fitzroy Crossing, where no
takeaway alcohol is already a restriction, and which is vulnerable to
sly grogging from other sources—predominantly, one might speculate,
Broome and Derby—offences against a person are down 50 per cent, family
violence is down 40 per cent and police call-outs are down 23 per cent.
Liquor
restrictions are undeniably having a positive impact. There have been some
really positive outcomes across the
Pilbara and goldfields with the banned drinkers register, takeaway alcohol
management systems and collaboration
with the liquor accords in those locations. Only this morning, the Commissioner
of Police was on ABC radio, and I understand that he said there has been
a reduction in Carnarvon since alcohol restrictions were enforced. The benefits
are stark and very clear.
(2) I assume
liquor restrictions would have the support of everyone in the chamber on all
sides of politics. I would assume the Liberal
Party would support those liquor restrictions and the positive benefit that
they have realised. However, if members ask me whether I am aware of
anyone who is suggesting they do not support liquor restrictions in the
regions, I can tell members that only on last Sunday, Joe Spagnolo of The
Sunday Times was doing one of his weekly spotlights on candidates for the
election, and the member for North West Central was the focus. It was her
moment to shine. It was her platform. She was asked specifically —
Do you agree
with the liquor restrictions that have been imposed in Carnarvon?
I
am assuming that she sought guidance from the Leader of the Liberal Party on
this response because I am sure that a candidate who is a member of
Parliament and has been here for a little while and is going to an election, and is not just one of the crazy
candidates out there, would understand the need for discipline to comply
with party policy in the lead-up to the election. She said —
There is a need for restrictions, but
I think the level of restrictions is questionable.
She is suggesting they are too tight.
Leader of the Liberal Party, am I to assume that the Liberal Party will roll
back liquor restrictions in Carnarvon, Derby and Broome? Is that what I can
assume?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr P. PAPALIA : Perhaps I should
ask again: was the member for North West Central consulting with a leader but
not necessarily the leader resident in the chamber? If that is the case, I ask
again of the aspirant leader of the Liberal
Party, the candidate for Churchlands. You have 10 points, my friend, in 10
commandments on Friday; maybe you can add another one: do you agree with
the liquor restrictions in Broome and Derby, or will you roll back those ones
as well?
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