[Greens-Media] Govt cosy with pubs and clubs while alcohol-related crime soars

[Christopher Holley]

18 April 2007 Govt cosy with pubs and clubs while alcohol-related crime
soars
 
Greens MP Sylvia Hale has called on Premier Morris Iemma to ban
political donations from pubs and clubs and increase funding for alcohol
education and treatment programs, following today’s release of the NSW
2006 Recorded Crime Statistics by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and
Research.
“Today’s report shows disturbingly high rates of alcohol-related crime
especially in regional NSW and points to the Iemma government’s failure
to tackle the powerful pubs and clubs lobby and put real resources into
stemming alcohol-related crime”, said Ms Hale.
“The recorded rate of offending for alcohol related crime per 100,000
people in NSW in 2006 was 1487 and this rises to over 4,500 in many
areas of Western NSW. 
“By far, the largest category of alcohol-related crime is assault. The
report makes it clear that alcohol plays a large role in violent crime
yet the government seems to push alcohol-related problems under the
carpet, focusing instead on other drugs, such as heroin or ice.
“At the 2003 NSW Alcohol Summit, then NSW Commissioner of Police Mr Ken
Maroney said people intoxicated with alcohol and perpetrating domestic
and other violence account for up to 75% of the workload of the NSW
police. 
“Despite this admission, the government pledged to spend less than one
tenth of the amount that the government put into drug programs following
the 1999 NSW Drug Summit.
“The pub industry is a major donor to NSW Labor. During the past 5
years, individual hotels contributed over $2 million to NSW Labor and
the Australian Hotels Association donated over $525,000 in NSW ALP in
this period.
“One has to ask how these hefty donations from pubs and clubs influence
Labor’s reluctance to put proper resources into alcohol education and
treatment programs. 
“The Greens call on the government to ban donations from the alcohol
industry and to ban advertising promotions for alcohol that encourage
excessive drinking.  
“Taxing alcohol is one of the most effective ways to reduce alcohol
consumption. But the NSW government has failed to push this at a
national level.
“The Greens call for the reform of alcohol taxation so that the tax
rate is based on alcohol content rather than beverage type. This income
should be funnelled into alcohol and drug education and treatment,” said
Ms Hale.
 
For more information:       Hazel Blunden, 9230 3030, 0437 092 154
 
 
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research NSW Recorded Crime
Statistics 2006 is available at www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au
Chris Holley
Policy and Media Officer
Office of Sylvia Hale MLC
Parliament House 
Macquarie St,
Sydney NSW 2000

Ph: 02 9230 3030 Mob: 0437 779 546
Fax: 02 9230 2159

E-mail: Christopher.Holley at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web:www.sylviahale.org.au