Revellers kept safe thanks to Toowoomba SNP Support Services

Toowoomba residents will be safer on a night out thanks to a more than $340,000 funding injection to the city’s Safe Night Precinct to help support services tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.

Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman said Toowoomba is one of 15 designated Safe Night Precincts in Queensland to receive funding as the Palaszczuk Government’s new laws to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence come into effect on July 1.

“The Toowoomba Safe Night Precinct was established in consultation with the local community, is managed by local Safe Night Precinct boards and will help drive local solutions to potential harms in our party precincts,” Ms Fentiman said.

“By providing rest and recovery facilities and mobile outreach, these support services will increase the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable people and those at risk of harm to themselves and others due to the influence of alcohol.

“The precincts provide people who might be affected by drugs or alcohol a place to rest and recover before they are reunited with friends or transport is organised to take them home.”

Ms Fentiman said the services will commence on Friday July 1, in tandem with the service of alcohol ceasing at 2am state-wide, except in safe night precincts where alcohol can be served until 3am. Also from July 1, the service rapid intoxication drinks such as shots will cease at midnight.

Ms Fentiman said Safe Night Precinct support services, operating in conjunction with Queensland Police and Queensland Ambulance Service, will provide a holistic safety net for patrons within the late night entertainment precincts.

METRO Care will operate the Toowoomba safe night precinct with a total funding allocation of $345,422.

Ms Fentiman said Safe Night Precincts have been operating in Fortitude Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville since December 2010.

She said additional precincts were located in Brisbane CBD, Brisbane Inner West, Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Bundaberg, Cairns, Broadbeach, Ipswich, Mackay and Gladstone.

The Palaszczuk Government is spending more than $7 million over three years on the Safe Night Precinct support services in a bid to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.

Media Contact:

Minister Fentiman: 0400 774 303