NT Opposition Welcomes Alice Springs Alcohol Bans

The Territory Opposition has welcomed the decision by the Northern Territory Licensing Commission to ban drinking in most public areas of Alice Springs.

"I've long been advocating a ban on public drinking and I'm pleased that it will finally be put in place,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"Public drunkenness has become a blight in Alice and has been allowed to detract from our quality of life in our beautiful town for too long.

"But, cracking down on alcohol related problems in Alice will require more than a ban on drinking in public.

"In the Territory last year almost 25,000 people were placed in protective custody for being drunk in public.

"The Martin Government will need to find additional police resources for the ban to be effectively enforced.

"In the past I've said Alice needs an additional 20 police officers to have a realistic chance of reigning in the anti-social behaviour plaguing the town.

"The prevalence of public drinking in Alice means even more police will be needed to enforce the new law.

"The ban on public drinking will also push a lot of the problems back into the town camps, which won't be subject to the ban.

"So, Clare Martin will also need to provide extra resources for policing the town camps.

"Too many people, mainly vulnerable women and children, are already subjected to horrifying violence in the town camps.

"A functioning police phone system would be helpful in offering them better protection than is currently available, as will increasing the number of police.”

2007-05-09