REV FRED NILE OPPOSES INCREASED ALCOHOL OUTLETS

Thursday 15^th November 2007

Rev Fred Nile, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has expressed opposition to increased Alcohol outlets during a speech made in Parliament.

“The Premier has announced what he says are the most extensive reforms to the New South Wales liquor laws in 25 years. That means that alcohol is on the agenda for this Parliament, because in due course legislation will be introduced to implement those reforms. I will review some of the good amendments that have been made to alcohol-related legislation in this State. The Christian Democratic Party has consistently pointed out the effects of alcohol abuse. As honourable members know, the Christian Democratic Party introduced the Alcoholic Beverages Advertising Prohibition Bill, which was defeated.

A second bill has been proposed dealing with alcoholic products carrying labels warning about the dangers of pregnant women consuming alcohol. Those dangers are now widely accepted. In the past medical authorities said that pregnant women could consume two glasses of alcohol a day without causing any damage to themselves or their baby, but they are now saying that it is dangerous to consume any alcohol during pregnancy. The Christian Democratic Party was also pleased about the introduction of random breath testing of drivers. We hope that in due course similar extensive random drug testing will be introduced. A limited trial is underway, but it should be extended across the State. I understand that at the moment only one drug testing bus is being used.

Another positive reform is the extension of zero alcohol tolerance to learner drivers and P-plate licence holders. I strongly promoted that initiative during Premier Bob Carr's 2003 Alcohol Summit. We have only recently dealt with a bill extending zero alcohol tolerance to learner drivers and P-plate licence holders from interstate and overseas. The Alcohol Summit, which followed on from the Drug Summit, was an important event. It acknowledged that alcohol is our major social problem. Even though I am strongly opposed to illegal drugs such as heroin, marijuana, cocaine and so on, the evidence proves that alcohol is our most serious social problem”, said Rev Fred Nile.

“Any amendments to alcohol-related legislation must be treated with great care so that we do not inadvertently create more social problems in this State. The Federal Government's National Alcohol Strategy 2006-09, which was endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy in May 2006, has been developed in cooperation with State and Territory governments in response to the serious impact that alcohol has on this country. Each year approximately 3,000 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and about 65,000 people are hospitalised. The annual national cost of alcohol-related social problems is estimated to be $7.6 billion. The strategy's four priorities are intoxication, public safety and amenity, health impacts, and cultural place and availability.

There is also no doubt that people who drive under the influence of alcohol cause serious accidents. One in eight people admit to driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Young people, particularly those in the 20 to 29 age group, are more likely to consume alcohol in a way that exposes them to the risk of long-term alcohol-related harm. It is important that this Parliament hasten very slowly with any moves to reform alcohol legislation. We must ensure that we do not open Pandora's box and as a result confront many more problems, especially given the predicted increase in the number of small bars operating in the Sydney city area”, stated Rev Nile

Rev Nile had also raised the issue of Alcohol the day before during question time in the Legislative Council;

Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE: I ask the Hon. John Della Bosca, representing the Premier, a question without notice. Is it a fact that a Federal parliamentary report found that Australia's number one social problem is not heroin but the drug alcohol and that the social annual cost of alcohol is $7.6 billion for Australia? Is it a fact that the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia reported that between 41 and 70 per cent of violent crimes are committed whilst the offender is under the influence of alcohol, and that alcohol is involved in about 50 per cent of cases of domestic violence and sexual violence?

Is it a fact that the biggest New South Wales liquor law reform in 25 years, announced by the Premier on 6 November, will increase the sales outlets for alcohol and so increase the consumption of alcohol in New South Wales, resulting in an increase in social and economic costs? Will the Premier consider all these factors before introducing the new liquor legislation?

The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I thank Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile for his question. It is a very good question and a complex one to answer. I will just make a couple of observations. The member knows the views of the Government and my views on these matters are well rehearsed. We have clearly taken the view that alcohol is one of the drugs in our society that is problematic and is at least one of the causal factors in many of the issues he referred to, whether it be domestic violence, social activity on the streets, violent activity, assaults or other criminal activity. Indeed, one could make the rhetorical point that the effects of alcohol, as a licit drug, include many of the worst effects of illicit drugs, about which we have a stronger view in the criminal justice system.

However, I remind the honourable member of a fundamental issue. I do not want to raise too many of the arguments of the distant past, but alcohol is, and has been for a long time, part of Australian culture and our lifestyle. The overwhelming majority of Australians take the view that, consumed in responsible amounts, alcohol is not harmful and may even be beneficial. Alcohol is an accepted drug in our culture and we must deal with it using policies and harm minimisation to reduce its negative social impact. I do not think it can be easily or necessarily controlled by dictating the operations of businesses that deal with alcohol.

Recent announcements made by the Premier and the Minister for Gaming and Racing, the Hon. Graham West, were manifold and will have many effects. They deal with a range of opportunities to minimise harm and to engage with the social consequences of alcohol and alcohol outlets. The member is aware of the evidence that much of the abuse and many of the social problems caused by irresponsible consumption of alcohol relate to our drinking culture and alcohol-related activities and not to the behaviour of alcohol retailers. In other words, he could find—and it could be argued on the evidence—that although the Premier's reforms might increase the number of places at which it is possible to purchase alcohol, they might also have a positive impact over time on our drinking culture. That has been the policy challenge for any responsible government and anyone participating in this debate.

We are a long way from regulating the consumption of alcohol as it was regulated in the days of wowser versus punter arguments. If we want to minimise the social effects and the harm caused by alcohol, our policies should address changing our culture and attitudes to it and dealing with health implications, preventative measures and education. Although I do not like the terminology, we should promote a more "sophisticated" approach to alcohol consumption. That might mean that people will be less inclined to look at alcohol as a means of becoming intoxicated and acknowledge the negative health and social impacts that concern the honourable member. I will refer the balance of the question to the Premier for any other comments he might want to add.