Mrs. Hayden questions the Premier on the impact of unlimited alcohol supply from eastern states on the WA government's COVID-19 alcohol restrictions. The Premier acknowledges the difficulty in controlling interstate trade and defends the government's actions as the best possible in a challenging situation.

AnsweredQoN 209Legislative Assembly
Asked
31 March 2020
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QuestionView source ↗

CORONAVIRUS —
ALCOHOL PURCHASE RESTRICTIONS
209. Mrs A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
On
25 and 27 March, the government introduced temporary restrictions on takeaway
alcohol across the state. Within one hour, WA witnessed a massive sales
campaign from eastern states' alcohol suppliers. How does the unlimited
supply of liquor from the eastern states impact on the intent of the government's
alcohol restrictions ''to ensure Western Australia is well prepared to respond to COVID-19 and minimise
alcohol-related problems in the community''?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the
question. It is a good point. It is very difficult—in fact, impossible—to
control trade between the states. It is a difficult issue to resolve. We have
done our best to restrict the overwhelming number of people who purchase
alcohol to ensure that they purchase responsibly. What we saw in the
supermarkets over the last month was very unseemly, unnecessary and
inappropriate, and we did not want to see the same thing happening in our
bottle shops. I think we struck the right balance. We ensured that there was
enough for everyone, if you like, and also that there were not those massive
runs on bottle shops that we saw in supermarkets. Is our solution perfect? It
is probably not perfect, but we have done our best in a difficult situation.

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