The forum provided a great opportunity to hear about the measures the NSW government has announced and to hear from those working on the frontline about the impacts these measures are having. There is good news in terms of reduced police arrests and reduced hospital admissions for alcohol-related incidents. The forum also provided a great opportunity to hear the positive research on the Newcastle restrictions.
Jo Holder of the Save our Streets campaign and Kings Cross Community Accord reports engaging questions from attendees to presenters about the challenges communities face when dealing with the liquor licensing system. The Alcohol Community Action Project (ACAP), made possible by a grant from the Australian Rechabite Foundation and administered by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, was praised by a number of attendees for the great work it is doing to support communities.
ACAP is a pilot project that supports people and organisations that want to prevent and redress alcohol-related harms in their communities across NSW in collaboration with the NSW government, local councils, police, health and the industry. The pilot project consists of two key resources: a website and a community adviser. It aims to ensure that the control of liquor outlets reflects the expectations and aspirations of local communities and is not solely driven by the wishes of the liquor industry.
ACAP helps explain the complexities of problematic liquor-related Development Applications (DAs), liquor licensing and related approvals, and complaints about liquor outlets.
ACAP helps people within communities to mobilise, and to achieve: a community free from alcohol-related harms so everyone can safely enjoy public spaces day and night; an informed and equal say on all liquor-related decisions that impact upon their community; a community that is not unfairly burdened with the high costs and dislocations of alcohol-related harms arising from the supply, promotion and availability of alcohol.
In January 2014, the NSW government made some significant announcements relating to managing alcohol-related harms. While the new measures of a 3am last drinks and 1.30am lockouts in Sydney’s CBD are welcome, they stop short of including communities in the liquor approval decision-making process and extending the benefits of reduced last drinks across the whole of NSW. ACAP aims to fill this gap by providing a resource that empowers local communities to engage in the decisions about the opening of new liquor outlets, the extension of trading hours, making complaints about undue alcohol-related disturbances and liquor promotions.
Project Manager Tony Brown has substantial experience assisting communities to address their alcohol-related concerns. In 2008, Tony helped drive the case for dealing with alcohol-related harms in Newcastle. This led to the introduction of a new set of conditions including a reduction in late-night trading hours of licensed premises. The “Newcastle Conditions” resulted in a reduction in alcohol-related assaults as well as a stronger and more diverse night-time economy.
The new NSW Premier Mike Baird has appointed the Hon. Troy Grant MP as Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing with responsibility for liquor regulation. NAAPA has written to both, congratulating them on their appointments and requesting a meeting to discuss how NAAPA can work with them to ensure the NSW government becomes a leader in reducing alcohol-related harms.
