Debates Day 2 - Wednesday 17 May 1995
Parliamentary Record 10
Debates for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997
1995-05-17
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES - Wednesday 17 May 1995 and defend quite well. We can certainly defend the fact that this is in no way a bandaid measure. As the minister stated, we are spending over $13m annually on counselling and education programs. The measure that we are talking about involves about $lm. It is not necessarily a matter of wielding a large stick. It is simply saying that there are community standards below which we will no longer tolerate people slipping. I would like to indicate what the Living With Alcohol program is doing at the moment before talking further on what the minister has proposed should be introduced in the Northern Territory. I will read a couple of pages from this report which bring us up to date with many of the projects that are being undertaken at the moment through the Living With Alcohol program of which this is simply another part. Members will be well aware of the prominent mass media campaigns that have encouraged a shift to light beer. They have generated public support for responsible serving practices by staff on licensed premises. They have discouraged drink driving. They have highlighted issues for young people. They have informed people of situations in which alcohol should be avoided, and they have negated alcohol as an excuse for family violence. These projects are underpinned by the activities of community education and research workers who work with community groups on the strategies that people can use to drink sensibly. It is a shame that the member for MacDonnell is not here because many of his comments criticising what the honourable minister was talking about are alluded to in this summary of what the Living With Alcohol program is about and is doing at the moment. It is a shame that he is not in the Chamber at the moment. M r EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! You should draw to the attention of the member for Casuarina that it is against standing orders to comment in that way. M r SPEAKER: The honourable member should be aware that he should not draw attention to the fact that a member is not present. M r ADAMSON: Mr Speaker, I withdraw that and note the lack of any inteijections from the member for MacDonnell who is normally most willing to interject. He is condemned by his silence at this stage. Planning is currently in progress for a substantial 2-year campaign focusing on responsible and sensible drinking guidelines. A campaign with licensees and the Liquor Commission has been tested with young people to address under-age drinking. That is hardly a bandaid measure. The Drinksense project has been universally popular across the Territory. It is run jointly by police, local alcohol workers, Living With Alcohol staff and licensees and is coordinated throughout local communities. It allows patrons to see for themselves the effect of heavy and light beer on their blood-alcohol levels and promotes keeping a level head. It has been run on more than 45 occasions in various licensed premises in our towns and on Aboriginal communities. It is an excellent example of the results that can be achieved by cooperative action. A great deal of the work of the Living With Alcohol Unit is not publicly prominent, but is equally essential - for example, the range of training needed to ensure that programs work effectively and are not simply bandaid measures. As well as training for bar staff, a certificate 3227