Debates Day 2 - Wednesday 14 February 2007
Parliamentary Record 12
Debates for 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; Parliamentary Record; ParliamentNT
2007-02-14
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES Wednesday 14 February 2007 3874 of the biggest industries in Australia. It makes enormous sums of money, otherwise they would not have so many ads on television. It must cost them a fortune. They basically run sport. Just go to Marrara; you cannot help but see it. I was at the footy. At least I saw there was more mid-strength beer around this time at the All Stars versus Essendon match. I complained last time that all I saw being sold was Cougar and full-strength Melbourne Bitter. At least there was a move to sell lighter beer. We have to put more pressure on the federal government. I am not sure what the figures are. The member for Blain queries whether we get the same amount of money from them as when the Living with Alcohol campaign was running. We need lots more money because we need to be doing a lot more work on treatment of alcoholics. Sheila Millar was on the radio today. I have been down to Dillinya. People like Sheila are who we should be supporting. If the government says we do not have enough money, then we have to make a bigger Ms Lawrie: No, that is not it. That is not the reason. Mr WOOD: I am just saying if; the word was if. If the government is saying there is not enough money for some of these programs, we need to try to get more money from the Commonwealth and from industry to help fund them. ANSTI closed down. Maybe it has closed down for other reasons besides not enough funds but Ms Lawrie: No, no, it had nothing to do with funding. You know that, Gerry. Mr WOOD: It is closed down now so I am interested to see what the governments plans are for its revival. There has been talk about the compulsory treatment of people who have an alcohol problem. I have said time and again that we need to be looking at alternatives, places where we can take people - high-class places, good accommodation with gardens and educational facilities who have orders to stay there. We know there are people who cannot help themselves because of the effects of alcohol. Another matter came to me when I was reading the national strategy. They had a section on public perceptions. It was interesting to see what people thought should be done. This is probably a little different from what the experts might think should be done. When the general population was asked to nominate possible measures to reduce alcohol-related harm the following responses were given by more than half of those surveyed: increasing the number of alcohol-free events (63.3%); I know the government has already, to some extent, done that because they have tightened up on alcohol events in schools. I do not think that is a bad thing: increasing the number of alcohol-free dry zones (63.3%); I know we have areas like football which are dry: serving only low-alcohol beverages at sporting events (60.6%); I know we do at Traeger Park. We certainly do not do it at Marrara: limiting TV advertising until after 9.30 pm (71.4%); more severe penalties for drink driving (85.9%); I know the government is looking at it through its task force: stricter laws against serving drunk customers (83.8%); There is certainly action in that direction in the Northern Territory: restricting late-night trading of alcohol (51.9%); We have gone down the path of opening up places in Mitchell Street quite late, but what has the effect been of violence in Mitchell Street? I am interested to hear from the police on such matters: strict monitoring of late-night licensed premises (72.1%); increasing the size of standard drink labels on alcohol containers (66.4%); and adding national drinking guidelines to alcohol containers (69.9%). Just before I sum up, the strategy also says: One third or more supported reducing pub and club trading hours, banning alcohol sponsorship at sporting events and