Tackling alcohol fuelled violence

The LNP’s stance -
Alcohol fuelled violence is a growing problem in Queensland, which has been allowed to increase in recent years due to inaction from the Bligh Labor Government.

While the LNP has welcomed the regulation of the use of glass in licensed venues as a preventative measure, this measure does not excuse a person from taking full responsibility for their actions when they chose to drink. Quite simply, glasses don’t throw themselves and the people who commit alcohol related violence must know that there will be serious consequences for their crimes.

Banning glass in licensed premises is only part of a much broader response to tackling alcohol related violence in and around licensed premises across Queensland. Banning glass will not change the entrenched culture of violence associated with drinking and licensed premise.

The whole community has a role to play in the prevention of alcohol-related violence, including business owners, government and community.

Key Areas for Responding To Alcohol Related Violence-

 Liquor Licensing/Prevention Issues-

• Examine the current strength of liquor licensing officers with a move to increase their numbers
• Start enforcing the responsible service of alcohol laws on a state wide basis and consistently.
• Provide additional support to existing programs aimed at getting the message out – One Punch Can Kill

Law Enforcement-

• Glasses don’t throw themselves, it’s time we started holding serious violent thugs accountable for their actions. In 2008/09 not one person was sentenced to jail for more than 5 years and 1200 of the 1400 actual jail sentences imposed were for less than a year. These offenders imprisoned for their actions would not have qualified for rehabilitation because of the short length of their sentence.

Legislative Reform-

• The LNP has previously proposed a number of legislative changes designed at holding offenders to account-
• ‘One punch can kill’ laws (assault causing death)
• Mandatory Minimum jail sentences for assaults against police and emergency service workers
• Drinkers need to accept that if they get drunk and commit violent crime then they must accept full responsibility for their crimes and this must be reflected in sentencing.
• Examine violence and Intoxication in and around licensed premises as circumstances of aggravation to an assault, sending a clear message that this type of violence is particularly serious.

Policing-

• ‘Zero-tolerance’ to public nuisance offences.
• The Government needs to provide an evidence based response to the 3am lock down in and around high density licensed venues. Since their introduction the rate of public nuisance and violence has increased based on what scant statistics this secretive government will release.
• Public Nuisance offences have increased by 22% in the past three years, from 42,031 in 2006/07 to 51,685
• We need to look at different ways to deter people from their violent alcohol fuelled ways, this may include taking peoples licences off them if found guilty of an alcohol related offence.
• Stronger permanent policing initiatives in and around licensed premise.

Stakeholder Views -
Queensland Hotels Association CEO Justin O’Connor was adamant that any move to ban glasses in bars after 10pm would be fought by his association.

“We don’t want a rational and acceptable practice to be changed because some idiots break the law,” Mr O’Connor said.

“If glass was discontinued from bars, when an incident occurred a person could easily pick up a chair or pool cue to assault somebody. Should we ban chairs from pubs?”

Bruce O’Neill of Mick O’Malley’s in the Brisbane mall said glass wasn’t the problem.

“Most incidents that have occurred around Brisbane have involved beer bottles or ‘Alcopop’ bottles not glasses, so banning glasses isn’t the solution,” Mr O’Neill said.

Chair of Victims Australasia Robyn Holder said her victims of crime support group is “keen on examining any initiative aimed at preventing violence.”