Category: alcohol


Alcohol sale reform in NSW

Filed under: alcohol, NSW politics — Leave a comment
November 20, 2011

The NSW Government may be fast asleep when it comes to gambling reform, and Premier Barry O’Farrell has in the past resisted moves to curb excessive alcohol consumption.

But many in our community will welcome a new bill, introduced by the government, to encourage the responsible sale of alcohol by establishing a three-strikes disciplinary system for licenced venues where there have been multiple breaches of the Liquor Act.

The bill targets “rogue” licensees and licenced venues that are repeatedly linked with violent behaviour or refuse to respect existing laws.  Liquor licences can be revoked or suspended, or conditions may be placed on a liquor license, which would have a direct impact on the viability of the store or venue.

Alcohol is a popular drug that is easily accessed and easily misused.  It is responsible for street violence, family violence, health problems and poverty.  The O’Farrell Government is to be commended for this small positive step toward harm minimisation.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 20 November 2011.

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Who’s to blame for alcohol abuse?

Filed under: alcohol — Leave a comment
July 29, 2011

If you’re a regular 2CH listener, you’ll know that the NSW Council of Churches takes the twin problems of alcohol abuse and problem gambling very seriously, and continues to press both state and federal governments to introduce reforms to protect people from abuse and addiction.

Well, one Church of England bishop has spoken out strongly, naming alcohol abuse “one of the major sins of our time.” The Rt Rev. Geoff Annas, bishop of Stafford in the UK, has laid the blame for alcohol abuse squarely at the feet of the government, which encourages the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and corner shops, and has relaxed licensing laws, all of which contribute to a culture of heavy alcohol consumption and all the negative effects that brings.

Bishop Annas said it was left to amazing organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous to tackle the effects of this drug abuse. He said he had plenty of experience of the effects of excessive alcohol consumption, but he failed to understand “the attitude of successive governments to a problem that blights our society and colours the view that the rest of the world has of our nation.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 3 July 2011.

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Action needed on alcohol and gambling

Filed under: alcohol, gambling, NSW politics — Leave a comment
April 3, 2011

In a state election campaign in which the lack of policy differentiation between the two major parties is matched only by the intensity of voter boredom, or disengagement, there are two significant social issues on which, if the parties could break the stranglehold of industry lobby groups, some real policy alternatives could emerge, and some real potential good might be delivered to struggling and hurting people in NSW.

One issue is alcohol-related violence and sensible measures to reduce it. The NSW Council of Churches supports the NSW Police Association’s Last Drinks campaign, calling for earlier pub closing times, lock-outs, and restrictions on the sale of high-alcohol content drinks late at night. The successful Newcastle trial should be rolled out in other parts of the state.

The other issue is problem gambling, and sensible measures to curb the scourge of poker machine addiction. The Productivity Commission estimates that 40 per cent of club industry revenue comes from problem gamblers.

There are several reforms that will help, including setting bet limits, reducing prize money, and placing a limit on ATM withdrawals at club venues.

Neither Labor nor the Coalition has shown interest in these reforms. Remember that when you cast your vote on Saturday.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 20 March 2011.

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Keneally and O’Farrell on politics and faith

Filed under: abortion, alcohol, ethics, gambling, NSW politics, politics and faith — Leave a comment
February 20, 2011

The event was held in the NSW Parliament theatrette on February 15.

On Tuesday night I joined about 140 senior church leaders at the NSW Parliament to hear Labor Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell address the first NSW election forum convened by the Australian Christian Lobby.

Both leaders made initial statements and then took questions from church leaders.

Premier Keneally spoke of the challenge of reconciling her faith as a Catholic with political decision-making, while Mr O’Farrell emphasised that his Catholic faith was a private matter quite separate from his job as a member of parliament.

Both leaders made commitments to preserve protections for religious freedom for churches and church agencies, but backed away from endorsing key reforms on the sale of alcohol, and problem gambling.

It was clear that neither party had any intention of decriminalising abortion in NSW, or reviewing the arrangements for secular ethics classes in state schools.

In all, steady as she goes, and no surprises from either leader.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 20 Feb 2011.

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Curbing alcohol-fuelled violence

Filed under: alcohol, NSW politics, violence — 1 Comment
January 28, 2011

The NSW Council of Churches has backed a call by the President of the Police Association of NSW, Mr Scott Weber, for tighter restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Council President Rev Richard Quadrio said the churches strongly supported the Police Association’s Last Drinks campaign which sought to tackle the problem of alcohol-related violence by convincing NSW political leaders to bring in measures such as earlier closing times, lock-outs and restrictions on the sale of high-alcohol content drinks late at night.

Rev Quadrio said police officers, doctors, nurses and ambulance officers were sick of dealing with the effects of alcohol-related violence.  Brutal attacks on emergency services workers by drunken thugs are not what we expect or condone in our suburbs or in our city centres.

The NSW Council of Churches has urged both major political parties to announce new policies to address alcohol-fuelled violence.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 30 Jan 2011.

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