Published Friday, 15 February, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Tougher alcohol restrictions and more help: the way forward for Queensland's Indigenous communities
Premier Anna Bligh and the Mayors representing 18 Indigenous communities today agreed to a crackdown on alcohol abuse in their communities with $65 Million extra State Government money to make this happen.
As part of the reforms Indigenous councils will not be eligible to hold a general liquor licence by December 31 this year. This will mean that the eight communities who are licensed operators (Aurukun, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington, Napranum, Umagico, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw) will have to relinquish their licenses.
“This will break the link between alcohol profits and Council income once and for all.
“The State Government will adjust the general grants to these communities to replace these funds.
“The Mayors and I have agreed that they will return to their communities to discuss the practicalities of going dry,” the Premier said.
“Not all communities will agree but those that do take the tough decision will be supported with a significant package of assistance including more drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.
“Alcohol abuse is a blight on Indigenous communities and today’s meeting is a major step forward in the fight against it.
“We are going to work with the communities to bring about a significant shift in the way we manage alcohol supplies and in the treatment and support of the people who binge drink.
“The new State Government funds I announced today along with the $36.4 Million the Rudd Government has committed to Queensland’s Indigenous communities will ensure we provide more than $100 Million worth of new services.
“Women and children in Indigenous communities have been paying a very high price for our collective failure to get alcohol out of the hands of heavy drinkers.
“The price of doing nothing is too high.
“The Mayors and I are under no illusion as to how hard this change will be.
“However we are determined that we will put new restrictions – in some cases total bans – on alcohol and supply the necessary health and police resources to make it a reality,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is a difficult and complex issue and we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
“I will be reporting to the Mayors and to all Queenslanders on the successes and any failures as we make this new system a reality,” the Premier said.
The Mayors of 18 of the State’s indigenous communities met with the Premier, the Treasurer, Minister for Police and Minister for Communities today in Cairns.
Friday February 15, 2008
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
1. TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS:
Alcohol restrictions in all communities need to be reviewed and tightened. While the Alcohol Management Plan in each community will be different, the range of tougher options could include:
- Becoming completely dry;
- Closing the canteen;
- Changed carriage limits;
- A ban on home brewing;
- Toughening restrictions within the restricted areas.
How will the State Government support tougher restrictions?
The State Government is committed to supporting councils to combat alcohol abuse in their communities. We will commit $65 million to make this happen. This new funding will deliver:
- New detoxification and rehabilitation programs
- New programs like murri watch and cell watch, sobering up facilities and support for community patrols;
- Greater enforcement of alcohol restrictions with additional support from Police and officers from Liquor Licensing;
- Support programs including an increased focus on literacy, before and after school activities, more PCYC programs, help for families to manage their own homes and incomes, better parenting programs and targeted support for vulnerable families;
New laws will also:
- Make it tougher for sly groggers to bring alcohol into communities;
- Make it easier for community members to have their homes declared dry; and
- More strictly regulate close-by pubs and hotels.
Communities that make the tough choice to become dry will receive a higher level of government support and more services.
The Commonwealth Government has also committed $36.4 million over four years to combat alcohol abuse and progress welfare reform in Queensland’s Indigenous communities. The State and Commonwealth Government are is finalising details on the roll-out and placement of these important measures.
How will tougher restrictions come into affect?
- April A team of senior state government officers will meet with councils and community justice groups to finalise the new arrangements;
- By May 31 State Government and local councils finalise the package to support the new Alcohol Management Plan;
- July 1 Communities begin the rolling implementation of new restrictions as new government services come online;
- December 31 Target date for implementation.
2. CANTEENS
What will happen to canteens?
The link between canteen profits and council income must be broken. New legislation will prohibit Indigenous Councils from holding a general liquor licence. The date of licence cancellation will be determined in consultation with each individual council but cancellation will occur by December 2008.
What about council income from canteens?
The State Government recognises that some councils fund important local programs with the proceeds from canteens. So that no community is disadvantaged the state government will replace lost council revenue to allow important social programs to continue.
The state government will guarantee $14.1 million over four years to meet this commitment.
3. WELFARE REFORM
The State Government has committed with work with the Commonwealth and local councils to begin a Welfare Reform Trial in four Cape communities – Aurukun, Hopevale, Coen and Mossman Gorge.
This trial will focus on ending the dysfunction experienced by families in these trial communities through intensive income management support, more detoxification and rehabilitation services, improved educational opportunities and better health services.
The State Government will introduce legislation to establish the Family Responsibility Commission in the parliamentary sitting week beginning 26 February and the trial will begin by mid year.
It is expected that other councils will have the opportunity to participate as the trial progresses. However, at the request of some councils, who wish to link income with responsible parenting sooner, negotiations have begun between state and federal government. It has been agreed that more work will done to explore ways of making this possible.
As part of the reforms Indigenous councils will not be eligible to hold a general liquor licence by December 31 this year. This will mean that the eight communities who are licensed operators (Aurukun, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington, Napranum, Umagico, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw) will have to relinquish their licenses.
“This will break the link between alcohol profits and Council income once and for all.
“The State Government will adjust the general grants to these communities to replace these funds.
“The Mayors and I have agreed that they will return to their communities to discuss the practicalities of going dry,” the Premier said.
“Not all communities will agree but those that do take the tough decision will be supported with a significant package of assistance including more drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.
“Alcohol abuse is a blight on Indigenous communities and today’s meeting is a major step forward in the fight against it.
“We are going to work with the communities to bring about a significant shift in the way we manage alcohol supplies and in the treatment and support of the people who binge drink.
“The new State Government funds I announced today along with the $36.4 Million the Rudd Government has committed to Queensland’s Indigenous communities will ensure we provide more than $100 Million worth of new services.
“Women and children in Indigenous communities have been paying a very high price for our collective failure to get alcohol out of the hands of heavy drinkers.
“The price of doing nothing is too high.
“The Mayors and I are under no illusion as to how hard this change will be.
“However we are determined that we will put new restrictions – in some cases total bans – on alcohol and supply the necessary health and police resources to make it a reality,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is a difficult and complex issue and we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
“I will be reporting to the Mayors and to all Queenslanders on the successes and any failures as we make this new system a reality,” the Premier said.
The Mayors of 18 of the State’s indigenous communities met with the Premier, the Treasurer, Minister for Police and Minister for Communities today in Cairns.
Friday February 15, 2008
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
1. TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS:
Alcohol restrictions in all communities need to be reviewed and tightened. While the Alcohol Management Plan in each community will be different, the range of tougher options could include:
- Becoming completely dry;
- Closing the canteen;
- Changed carriage limits;
- A ban on home brewing;
- Toughening restrictions within the restricted areas.
How will the State Government support tougher restrictions?
The State Government is committed to supporting councils to combat alcohol abuse in their communities. We will commit $65 million to make this happen. This new funding will deliver:
- New detoxification and rehabilitation programs
- New programs like murri watch and cell watch, sobering up facilities and support for community patrols;
- Greater enforcement of alcohol restrictions with additional support from Police and officers from Liquor Licensing;
- Support programs including an increased focus on literacy, before and after school activities, more PCYC programs, help for families to manage their own homes and incomes, better parenting programs and targeted support for vulnerable families;
New laws will also:
- Make it tougher for sly groggers to bring alcohol into communities;
- Make it easier for community members to have their homes declared dry; and
- More strictly regulate close-by pubs and hotels.
Communities that make the tough choice to become dry will receive a higher level of government support and more services.
The Commonwealth Government has also committed $36.4 million over four years to combat alcohol abuse and progress welfare reform in Queensland’s Indigenous communities. The State and Commonwealth Government are is finalising details on the roll-out and placement of these important measures.
How will tougher restrictions come into affect?
- April A team of senior state government officers will meet with councils and community justice groups to finalise the new arrangements;
- By May 31 State Government and local councils finalise the package to support the new Alcohol Management Plan;
- July 1 Communities begin the rolling implementation of new restrictions as new government services come online;
- December 31 Target date for implementation.
2. CANTEENS
What will happen to canteens?
The link between canteen profits and council income must be broken. New legislation will prohibit Indigenous Councils from holding a general liquor licence. The date of licence cancellation will be determined in consultation with each individual council but cancellation will occur by December 2008.
What about council income from canteens?
The State Government recognises that some councils fund important local programs with the proceeds from canteens. So that no community is disadvantaged the state government will replace lost council revenue to allow important social programs to continue.
The state government will guarantee $14.1 million over four years to meet this commitment.
3. WELFARE REFORM
The State Government has committed with work with the Commonwealth and local councils to begin a Welfare Reform Trial in four Cape communities – Aurukun, Hopevale, Coen and Mossman Gorge.
This trial will focus on ending the dysfunction experienced by families in these trial communities through intensive income management support, more detoxification and rehabilitation services, improved educational opportunities and better health services.
The State Government will introduce legislation to establish the Family Responsibility Commission in the parliamentary sitting week beginning 26 February and the trial will begin by mid year.
It is expected that other councils will have the opportunity to participate as the trial progresses. However, at the request of some councils, who wish to link income with responsible parenting sooner, negotiations have begun between state and federal government. It has been agreed that more work will done to explore ways of making this possible.