Page 1391 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 13 May 2014
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An average of 41 alcohol-related assaults were reported each month in 2010-11, compared with 37 in 2012-13. This is a fall of 11 per cent. The number of assaults reported on licensed premises dropped across the ACT from 2010 to 2013, but increased in the city centre. Offences reported in public places have also dropped by 17 per cent.
Ambulance and health data show concerning trends, including increased under-age alcohol-related ambulance attendances and alcohol-related emergency department presentations. So we do have more work to do. The report confirms that the government’s liquor reforms, the first implemented since the Liquor Act first took effect in 1970, are making a difference and that we are seeing across the city less alcohol-related crime. But we still have areas of concern and the government will be focusing on those in its next round of reforms.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Attorney, what steps will the government be taking to address the report?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Berry for her supplementary. There are some short-term and longer term reforms that we need to consider. In the short term, measures such as secondary supply laws should be addressed to address issues with purchase of alcohol by people who are 18 and then passing it to younger, underage consumers. But the most significant areas for reform include issues around trading hours, outlet density, licensing fees and restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion. I expect that all these issues will occur in consultation with relevant stakeholders and the broader community.
In the shorter term, as I have said, secondary supply laws and controlled purchase operations will be further considered by the government. The government will revisit the Liquor Advisory Board’s function, charter and membership to assist in the consideration of a range of reforms arising from the report, and we will further strengthen our data collection and reporting. All of these things will assist the government in its next program of reform.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Attorney, could you please tell the Assembly more about how robust the ACT liquor legislation is in terms of managing alcohol-related harms?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for her supplementary. It is the case that the ACT’s liquor laws have been recognised as leading in the national context. Last year, the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol released its inaugural national scorecard on alcohol policy, which weighed federal, state and territory government policies against a list of criteria. They ranked the ACT first amongst all Australian jurisdictions for our efforts in tackling the outcomes of alcohol-related harm.
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