Government committed to alcohol reform in discrete Indigenous communities

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Lindy Nelson-Carr today announced revised alcohol restrictions will apply in discrete Indigenous communities from next year.

“At the Ministerial Indigenous Roundtable in February 2008, the Premier expressed to the Mayors that their communities should go as dry as possible for a period of time, in order to reduce alcohol-related harm and strengthen community and family life,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“Significant headway has been made on this very important issue and government remains committed to working with community leaders to achieve positive and sustainable results,” she said.

“The legislative changes introduced from 1 July 2008 represent a substantial tightening of alcohol management across all communities, including the divestment of general liquor licences by Indigenous councils by 31 December 2008. Government will provide funding to affected councils to enable them to continue to fund social services previously funded through canteen profits.

“A review of alcohol carriage limits has been undertaken. Service delivery and regulatory responses have been recommended for all communities based on levels of harm, services needs, community consultation and the effectiveness of existing carriage limits.”

Tighter alcohol restrictions will commence on 2 January 2009 for the communities of Hope Vale, Yarrabah, Doomadgee, and Pormpuraaw.

“The levels of alcohol-related harm in Hope Vale and Yarrabah remain too high. High-strength alcohol products, especially cask wine, have been identified as a particular problem and government will regulate this via restrictions,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“The reduced carriage limits for Doomadgee and Pormpuraaw are the result of the communities’ commitments to reduce alcohol-related harm and I commend these communities for their positive response to the government’s challenge.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said Alcohol-related services will now be available to support all communities.

“Across the State we have backed this with an allocation of $66 million over four years, with an additional $43 million coming from the Commonwealth over the same period.

“Over $100 million will be spent on over 100 new services to assist communities in the next four years.

“Alcohol-related health treatment, sport and recreation and diversionary services are being implemented to coincide with tighter restrictions or the closure of canteens and new services.

“These services are scheduled to be in place by 31 December 2008, prior to revised restrictions starting in some communities on 2 January 2009.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said urgent action was needed to stop the damage being done by alcohol misuse in Indigenous communities, particularly to women and children.

“The Bligh Government is prepared to regulate alcohol supply in discrete Indigenous communities to the extent, and for the time necessary, to see a substantial and sustainable reduction in alcohol-related harms.

“We recognise however that harm reduction can only be sustained where there is ownership and leadership within the communities.

“This government is supporting communities to address this issue. Clear local harm reduction targets and the direct and positive involvement of mayors and community justice groups in the process are essential.

“I expect that the mayors show leadership and make some tough decisions in order to provide improved outcomes for their communities.”

Incentives for local initiatives would be available for communities that demonstrate a willingness to significantly reduce alcohol consumption and related harm.

“Community leaders in Pormpuraaw, Doomadgee and Mapoon are demonstrating this and will be rewarded with funding for small scale community activities,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

Similar rewards will be available for those communities who demonstrate a willingness to significantly reduce alcohol consumption and related harm.

The government will also work with those communities who have expressed interest in permits to explore whether there are viable ways of implementing permit systems.

“The intention has always been to monitor community health and levels of alcohol-related harm through the quarterly reporting process, to help inform whether restrictions are maintained or relaxed further down the track,” said the Minister.

“Nothing would be more pleasing to me than to see communities turn the corner, demonstrating a socially-responsible approach to alcohol consumption and a diminished need for government intervention.”

Media Contacts: Minister Nelson-Carr’s Office - 3235 4280,
Liquor Licensing - 3247 5963


1. Alcohol restrictions

Why regulate alcohol restrictions?

There is serious alcohol-related harm occurring in discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, especially to children, women and other vulnerable members. The levels of violence and alcohol-related injuries are too high.
The government will regulate alcohol supply in discrete Indigenous communities to the extent, and for the time necessary, to see a substantial and sustainable reduction in alcohol-related harms.
Equally, the government will continue to expect that the Mayors make some tough decisions, and show immediate positive community leadership through:
• participation in anti-sly grog accords;
• development of local laws;
• encouraging the declaration of dry places; and
• support for community activities.

For the Cape York Welfare Reform communities, this includes a commitment to the implementation of reforms.


How long are restrictions imposed for?

Government’s objective is to achieve sustained harm reduction through community driven establishment of positive social norms and reduced government intervention. Community involvement in the alcohol management framework, including clarity on local harm reduction targets and the review process, is essential to meeting this objective.

Quarterly Ministerial discussions with Mayors will be held to allow ongoing involvement by elected community representatives in the decision-making process and increase the likelihood of community ownership of alcohol restrictions and the broader reform process.

Levels of alcohol-related harm will be monitored and published in quarterly reports. The level of harm will assist to inform whether restrictions are maintained or relaxed. If over a number of consecutive quarters a community can make a substantial and sustained reduction in harm, a review of the alcohol restrictions could be undertaken.

Revised alcohol restrictions to take effect 2 January 2009
Carriage limits will be reduced in Yarrabah and Hope Vale:
• Yarrabah - 11.25 litres (one carton) of light or mid-strength beer OR 750 mls (one bottle) of non-fortified wine. This means that cask wine, fortified wine, full strength beer and premixed spirits will not be allowed in the community.
• Hope Vale - 11.25 litres (one carton) of light or mid-strength beer OR 750 mls (one bottle) of non-fortified wine. This means that cask wine will not be allowed in the community.

Reduced carriage limits for Doomadgee and Pormpuraaw are based on the communities’ proposals to government in response to the Queensland Government’s alcohol reforms:
• Doomadgee - two cartons of light or mid strength beer (removing full strength beer) and a ban on home-brew.
• Pormpuraaw - a zero carriage limit (including a ban on home-brew).

Extensive consultation is being conducted regarding the possible introduction of a carriage limit for Cherbourg as restrictions have not been in place for the community before. Government will make a decision regarding Cherbourg before the end of 2008.

No change to carriage limits for other communities
There will be no change to carriage limits in Aurukun, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island and Palm Island. A reduction of alcohol supply will occur following the lapse of canteen licences currently held by these councils, unless or until a new licence is approved.
There will be no change to carriage limits in Mapoon, Napranum, Wujal Wujal and the Northern Peninsula Area communities (Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia and Umagico).
A zero carriage limit took effect in Woorabinda on 1 July 2008. Extra services, including enhanced alcohol-related services, have been provided to the community.
Brochures, posters, maps and online material for residents, workers and travellers will provide information about carriage limits.

2. Support services
The government has committed $66.352 million over four years to service enhancement, with $43.394 million over four years from the Australian Government to assist communities reduce alcohol-related harm in their community.

Queensland Government agencies have jointly developed a package of enhanced alcohol-related services for each of the 19 discrete Indigenous communities which covers alcohol assessment, treatment, detoxification; sport and recreation services; and diversionary services, such as Men’s group and Women’s Groups.

The Queensland Government will support communities to tackle alcohol misuse and reduce alcohol-related harm by providing the following:
• Twenty-nine new police officers to enforce new legislative provisions, including preventing ‘sly grog’ entering the communities.
• Four new well-being centres in the Cape York Welfare Reform communities, providing integrated drug and alcohol counselling and support services as well as general counselling services.
• Three new community-based integrated drug and alcohol centres for Woorabinda, Cherbourg and Bamaga.
• Three new drug and alcohol hubs in Mount Isa, Townsville and Weipa providing flexible, professional support to remote communities.
• Twelve new community-based drug and alcohol support workers.
• Four new community-based drug and alcohol counsellors.
• Ten new detoxification services.
• Four new Police Citizens Youth Club CAPE centres.
• Thirteen new men’s support programs and eight new women’s support programs to address alcohol-related issues and improve confidence through activities including support groups, training and recreational and cultural activities.
• Four new suicide prevention programs in Aurukun, Doomadgee, Lockhart River and Mornington Island.
• Four new community patrols (to transport people away from drinking in public spaces to a service or safe place to sober up) will be established and the Riverbed Response Group in Mount Isa will be strengthened to provide additional services.
• A new sobering-up shelter has been established in Woorabinda. This service provides a safe place where intoxicated drinkers can be supervised to sober up and later be referred to alcohol support and diversionary services.

These services will be further supported by the Australian Government’s investment in residential rehabilitation. Specific implementation details are being worked through with communities to ensure the services respond to community needs. Where services in-full cannot be in place by 31 December 2008 (prior to revised restrictions commencing in some communities on 2 January 2009), interim services are being put in place.

3. Incentives to reduce harm
Community leaders in Pormpuraaw, Doomadgee and Mapoon are taking positive steps towards alcohol management and harm reduction and will be rewarded with funding for small scale community activities.
Similar rewards will be available for those communities that demonstrate a willingness to significantly reduce alcohol consumption and related harm.

4. Canteens
No council in Queensland will hold a general liquor licence by 31 December 2008, which means that Indigenous councils will not be able to run canteens (with the exception of the Torres Strait Island Regional Council which has an extra 12 months to divest its general liquor licences as the islands have not previously been subject to alcohol management plans). Social services funded by canteen profits in the past, will continue with new funding from government.

While legislative changes that took effect 1 July 2008 provide an ‘end date’ for existing general liquor licences, they also allow for a transition to new arrangements. The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) is allowing a phasing in period of up to 31 December 2008 to allow for improved government services to be delivered to communities.

Mornington Island and Napranum canteens were already closed and the licences were cancelled on 1 July 2008.

The general liquor licence held by the Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council was surrendered on 1 November 2008. The cancellation dates for the licences held by Aurukun and Kowanyama councils, originally 1 November 2008, are pending a decision by the Supreme Court. Other licences held by Indigenous councils will be cancelled on the following dates:
• 1 December 2008 - Palm Island and Pormpuraaw; and
• 31 December 2008 - Northern Peninsula Area (Umagico).

In determining these cancellation dates, the OLGR took into account the social and health impacts on the community. Any new licence applications lodged by non-council operators will be considered by the OLGR.

5. Community awareness campaigns
The Queensland Government is determined to promote the well being of community members, particularly children, through community awareness and education campaigns:
• ‘Strong Community Life’ (delivered by the OLGR) promotes responsible drinking behaviour and highlights the negative impacts of excessive alcohol use.
• The sale of alcohol without a licence, or ‘sly grogging’, is a major cause of harm, violence, poor health and poverty in Indigenous communities.
• Government will encourage community-led anti-sly grog campaigns (backed up by increased land and sea enforcement by the Queensland Police Service) to encourage community members to play their part by reporting suspected sly grogging via the Sly Grog Hotline - 1800 500 815.
• Build on the success of Queensland Transport’s Indigenous Driver Licensing Program to promote road safety/anti-drink driving messages and highlight specific messages about the dangers of travelling long distances on 'grog runs'.
• Brochures, posters, maps and online material for residents, workers and travellers will provide information about carriage limits.