❓ The Minister for Racing and Gaming addresses concerns about alcohol-related harm in Carnarvon, highlighting the Director of Liquor Licensing's inquiry and proposed restrictions due to inaction from the local liquor accord. The Minister strongly supports the proposed restrictions.
AnsweredQoN 139Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS — CARNARVON
139. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Racing and
Gaming:
I
refer to the inquiry launched into the potential liquor restrictions for
Carnarvon by the director of Liquor Licensing.
(1) Can the minister outline to the
house what the inquiry has identified?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how the community has responded to the proposal?
139. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Racing and
Gaming:
I
refer to the inquiry launched into the potential liquor restrictions for
Carnarvon by the director of Liquor Licensing.
(1) Can the minister outline to the
house what the inquiry has identified?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how the community has responded to the proposal?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington
for the question and her concern about the impact of alcohol on communities
across Western Australia.
(1)–(2) I can confirm to the house that we are very much
aware of the issues around Carnarvon. It has been discussed in this
place previously. We know about the impact of alcohol abuse on that community.
We know that Carnarvon is a unique regional town in that it has not had any
serious alcohol restrictions. Unlike towns in the Kimberley, the Pilbara and
the goldfields, it is not subject to section 64 restrictions in relation to
takeaway alcohol or the banned drinkers register. It officially got its liquor
accord only earlier this year. The member for North West Central appears to
doubt that.
The
application to be formally registered was processed only on 31 January this
year after receiving the application 20 days before. When the department
got an application for a liquor accord in Carnarvon to be formally recognised,
it happened within 20 days. If we want to count working days, it is probably
closer to two weeks. It was a very efficient turnaround. Even with that liquor
accord, it did nothing. It was very frustrating for the members of that liquor accord,
who included the police; community members; members
of the Aboriginal community; and the chair, Eddie Smith, the shire president,
who literally tore his hair out in frustration trying to get something
done for that community but for the division amongst licensees.
Last night, I was made aware that the
director of Liquor Licensing had initiated an inquiry into the extent of alcohol-related harm in Carnarvon. In my view,
she had no choice, without local action. I commend and congratulate her for finally taking action. Just
as locals have been telling us, the director of Liquor Licensing inquiry
concluded that alcohol is a major contributor to crime, social and health
issues in Carnarvon. As such, the director is proposing section 64 restrictions
on the supply and sale of packaged liquor. Her proposals include prohibited
alcohol sales on Sunday and Monday. No takeaway alcohol sales on Sunday and
Monday is the proposal coming from the director of Liquor Licensing. There is
also a proposal to limit opening hours for alcohol sales to between 12 noon and
7.00 pm on the other days of the week. Tough new restrictions on the amount of
liquor purchased per customer per day are proposed.
Something had to be done. We know
that the liquor accord was in a position to take local action and get local
advice, but no action came. Nothing was proposed. Nothing was agreed. The DLL
had to step in.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr
R.R. WHITBY : People's
lives were being ruined, member. People's lives are being ruined in
Carnarvon. Kids are missing out on school. Parents are not there to look after
those children. The statistics in Carnarvon are staggering.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : If the member
wants to listen for a moment, I will tell her what is happening in Carnarvon.
If the local member is not concerned, we are as a government and we want this
action.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : We heard
nothing—nada! Nothing from the liquor accord in Carnarvon—not a
thing. Not one proposal came forward for accreditation or registration with the
DLL.
Alcohol consumption per adult in
Carnarvon is 2.4 times the overall WA rate based on population. Ambulance
call-outs for alcohol-related trauma in Carnarvon are nine times higher on
weekends when unrestricted liquor trade occurs. In 2022, alcohol-related crimes
in Carnarvon were 16.2 times higher than the metropolitan average. The member
of deaths attributed to alcohol —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please, members!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : We are taking action. The director of
Liquor Licensing had to take action. The number of deaths attributed to alcohol
in Carnarvon —
Point of Order
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Madam
Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This point
of order will be heard in silence.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The minister is giving a very
important report on arrangements around liquor in Carnarvon, and there have
been constant interjections, including what I think was an inappropriate
interjection from the member for Central Wheatbelt.
The SPEAKER : Just on that point of order, I note that
those opposite did not ask the question. Normally, I would not entertain their
interjections; it is only because some of the minister's comments have
been directed at those opposite that I have
allowed some leeway for interjection. This question has taken too long to
answer so far, so I ask those opposite not to continue to interject, and
I will ask the minister to draw his answer to a close.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Thank you, Speaker. I think these
numbers and statistics are important to hear. Let us hear them in silence.
The number of deaths attributed to alcohol in Carnarvon was
151 per cent higher than for the rest of WA between 2010 and 2019. With regard
to takeaway alcohol purchases in Carnarvon, it represents a massive 85 per cent
of all liquor sold in Carnarvon compared with the state average of 60 per cent.
The director of Liquor Licensing has listened. The government has also
listened. We are implementing the BDR in Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction as
soon as possible.
I am advised that the director has written to the 10 relevant
licensees who sell takeaway liquor in Carnarvon to advise them about these
changes. Licensees have until 5 April to respond to the director of Liquor
Licensing about her proposal. I add that there is nothing to stop licensees
from acting before then; they can take these restrictions and implement them
today if they wish, and I hope they do. The director will make a final decision
on restrictions once the licensee feedback period has closed. However, we are
already hearing strong support for tougher alcohol restrictions in Carnarvon
from the shire president, Eddie Smith, to the police, the health workers and
the agencies that have to deal with the fallout of young kids wandering the
streets because it is not safe to go home. Once again, I commend the director
of Liquor Licensing for initiating this inquiry into alcohol consumption in
Carnarvon and the impact it is having on that community.
for the question and her concern about the impact of alcohol on communities
across Western Australia.
(1)–(2) I can confirm to the house that we are very much
aware of the issues around Carnarvon. It has been discussed in this
place previously. We know about the impact of alcohol abuse on that community.
We know that Carnarvon is a unique regional town in that it has not had any
serious alcohol restrictions. Unlike towns in the Kimberley, the Pilbara and
the goldfields, it is not subject to section 64 restrictions in relation to
takeaway alcohol or the banned drinkers register. It officially got its liquor
accord only earlier this year. The member for North West Central appears to
doubt that.
The
application to be formally registered was processed only on 31 January this
year after receiving the application 20 days before. When the department
got an application for a liquor accord in Carnarvon to be formally recognised,
it happened within 20 days. If we want to count working days, it is probably
closer to two weeks. It was a very efficient turnaround. Even with that liquor
accord, it did nothing. It was very frustrating for the members of that liquor accord,
who included the police; community members; members
of the Aboriginal community; and the chair, Eddie Smith, the shire president,
who literally tore his hair out in frustration trying to get something
done for that community but for the division amongst licensees.
Last night, I was made aware that the
director of Liquor Licensing had initiated an inquiry into the extent of alcohol-related harm in Carnarvon. In my view,
she had no choice, without local action. I commend and congratulate her for finally taking action. Just
as locals have been telling us, the director of Liquor Licensing inquiry
concluded that alcohol is a major contributor to crime, social and health
issues in Carnarvon. As such, the director is proposing section 64 restrictions
on the supply and sale of packaged liquor. Her proposals include prohibited
alcohol sales on Sunday and Monday. No takeaway alcohol sales on Sunday and
Monday is the proposal coming from the director of Liquor Licensing. There is
also a proposal to limit opening hours for alcohol sales to between 12 noon and
7.00 pm on the other days of the week. Tough new restrictions on the amount of
liquor purchased per customer per day are proposed.
Something had to be done. We know
that the liquor accord was in a position to take local action and get local
advice, but no action came. Nothing was proposed. Nothing was agreed. The DLL
had to step in.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr
R.R. WHITBY : People's
lives were being ruined, member. People's lives are being ruined in
Carnarvon. Kids are missing out on school. Parents are not there to look after
those children. The statistics in Carnarvon are staggering.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : If the member
wants to listen for a moment, I will tell her what is happening in Carnarvon.
If the local member is not concerned, we are as a government and we want this
action.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : We heard
nothing—nada! Nothing from the liquor accord in Carnarvon—not a
thing. Not one proposal came forward for accreditation or registration with the
DLL.
Alcohol consumption per adult in
Carnarvon is 2.4 times the overall WA rate based on population. Ambulance
call-outs for alcohol-related trauma in Carnarvon are nine times higher on
weekends when unrestricted liquor trade occurs. In 2022, alcohol-related crimes
in Carnarvon were 16.2 times higher than the metropolitan average. The member
of deaths attributed to alcohol —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please, members!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : We are taking action. The director of
Liquor Licensing had to take action. The number of deaths attributed to alcohol
in Carnarvon —
Point of Order
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Madam
Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This point
of order will be heard in silence.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The minister is giving a very
important report on arrangements around liquor in Carnarvon, and there have
been constant interjections, including what I think was an inappropriate
interjection from the member for Central Wheatbelt.
The SPEAKER : Just on that point of order, I note that
those opposite did not ask the question. Normally, I would not entertain their
interjections; it is only because some of the minister's comments have
been directed at those opposite that I have
allowed some leeway for interjection. This question has taken too long to
answer so far, so I ask those opposite not to continue to interject, and
I will ask the minister to draw his answer to a close.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Thank you, Speaker. I think these
numbers and statistics are important to hear. Let us hear them in silence.
The number of deaths attributed to alcohol in Carnarvon was
151 per cent higher than for the rest of WA between 2010 and 2019. With regard
to takeaway alcohol purchases in Carnarvon, it represents a massive 85 per cent
of all liquor sold in Carnarvon compared with the state average of 60 per cent.
The director of Liquor Licensing has listened. The government has also
listened. We are implementing the BDR in Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction as
soon as possible.
I am advised that the director has written to the 10 relevant
licensees who sell takeaway liquor in Carnarvon to advise them about these
changes. Licensees have until 5 April to respond to the director of Liquor
Licensing about her proposal. I add that there is nothing to stop licensees
from acting before then; they can take these restrictions and implement them
today if they wish, and I hope they do. The director will make a final decision
on restrictions once the licensee feedback period has closed. However, we are
already hearing strong support for tougher alcohol restrictions in Carnarvon
from the shire president, Eddie Smith, to the police, the health workers and
the agencies that have to deal with the fallout of young kids wandering the
streets because it is not safe to go home. Once again, I commend the director
of Liquor Licensing for initiating this inquiry into alcohol consumption in
Carnarvon and the impact it is having on that community.
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