Page 4035 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 September 2018
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§ 1 Senior Project Officer – responsible for Citizenship ceremonies, Overseas Qualification assessment and Multicultural Advisory Council Secretariat;
§ 1 Assistant Manager - multicultural community engagement and events;
§ 1 Senior Manager - oversight of the functions for the Office for Multicultural Affairs; and
§ 1 Senior Manager - National Multicultural Festival
National Multicultural Festival—service of alcohol
(Question No 1715)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, upon notice, on 24 August 2018:
(1) Did the Minister state that the decision to restrict alcohol sales for the 2018 National Multicultural Festival was intended “to address a concern that has been expressed by stakeholders over a number of years”; if so, was the concern (a) the quantity of alcohol available at the festival, (b) the fact that it has been served by community groups, or (c) both.
(2) In relation to any stakeholders that have expressed concern that community groups were allowed to sell alcohol at past festivals, what reasons have been offered in support of this concern for example, including lack of RSA training or any other reason.
(3) What government departments, non-governmental agencies or unions have raised concerns about the sale of alcohol at the festival by community groups, and what reasons have these organisations given.
Mr Steel: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. The concern expressed was about the quantity of alcohol and level of intoxication at the event, including that unlimited alcohol sales could undermine the family friendliness, safety and cultural integrity of the festival. The concern was not specific to the sale of alcohol by community groups.
2. Concern was not only in relation to community groups concerns related to both the availability of alcohol across the footprint and responsible service of alcohol.
2. In the context of debriefing about risks and challenges at the Festival, ACT Police highlighted the risks of increased intoxicated behaviours with the potential of serious consequences if preventative action was not taken. This opinion was agreed with by some members of the Festival Steering Committee. Stallholders have also discussed sale of alcohol with the Festival team and have expressed that managing alcohol sales contributes to the Festival maintaining its family friendliness, safety and cultural integrity. These opinions were further supported in the recent community consultation, along with some views supporting alcohol sales.
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