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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Kimberley Crackdown
Monday, 9 March, 2009
The Kimberley area of Western Australia could soon become the hardest place in the country to buy full-strength take-away alcohol, if the alcohol bans being considered by authorities are put in place.
Your Say: Do you think alcohol restrictions is the solution to addressing alcohol-related violence and crime in communities?
Watch the video
It's the town of Halls Creek that will be most affected.
The state's Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor says it's trying to curb the violence, crime, child abuse and neglect that's troubled the community, but the issue has divided locals.
Some support the bans in a community where it's believed as many as one in four children have foetal alcohol syndrome.
Others say it's not fair that everyone would be affected by the ban. They say prohibition will just move the problem on to other areas while destroying local businesses.
Living Black's presenter, Karla Grant, travelled to the area to hear from the people who are waiting on the decision that may affect their future.
TRANSCRIPT
KIMBERLEY CRACKDOWN Now from the Top End to the Kimberley. Alcohol restrictions are proposed right across the region, which will make it the hardest place in the country to buy full-strength takeaway alcohol. But it's the town of Halls Creek that will be most affected. Authorities say they're trying to curb violence, crime, child abuse and neglect. But some say it won't work. As the WA Government prepares to announce changes, Living Black travelled to Halls Creek to speak with locals about the issue.
VOICEOVER: It's dusk in Halls Creek, gateway to the majestic Bungle Bungles. As the sun falls closer to the horizon, the town's two takeaway alcohol stores are doing their best trade of the day, before closing at 6pm. Many buy their cartons and disappear into the landscape. Drinking is not just a pastime here - for some, it's a way of life. Dr David Shepherd works at Halls Creek's hospital, and says the majority of his work is directly related to alcohol abuse.
DR DAVID SHEPHERD: I have seen things that are so shocking you probably wouldn't even want to know about it. I mean, there are horrible, violent gang rapes that occur. There's been kids left underneath bushes while their mother goes and drinks in the pub, and the kids have died of thirst or hunger while the mother's in there drinking. We have seen kids - 6-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds - drinking.
VOICEOVER: The WA Department of Liquor Licensing wants all takeaway full-strength and mid-strength alcohol to be banned in Halls Creek after two trials held last year showed a significant reduction in assaults, vandalism and other crimes. Police say alcohol is the catalyst.
SNR SGT TIM NORRISH, HALLS CREEK POLICE: We had a ban on cask wine sales and the effect was immediate - probably a 50% reduction in arrests for that particular week, and that's generally the way it works - you take alcohol out of the equation and crime goes down. There's less admissions in the hospital, less trouble in town, that type of thing.
VOICEOVER: Fitzroy Crossing, about 300km west of Halls Creek, introduced a low-strength policy on takeaway drinks in 2007. The scheme was successful in reducing violence, crime and increasing school attendance. Liquor Licensing WA wants to do the same in Halls Creek. A consultation period, which ended last month, attracted a series of complaints from alcohol retailers, businesses and organisations.
LYNETTE CRAIG, HALLS CREEK COUNCIL: It is not the whole town that is drunk and disorderly and belting people up and, you know, interfering with children. From an economic point of view, we fear that the businesses are sort of going to go into decline.
VOICEOVER: Bottle shop owner Peter Tierney understands alcohol is a problem in Halls Creek, but doesn't believe the proposal is the right step to take.
PETER TIERNEY, HALLS CREEK TAVERN: Prohibition of takeaway liquor in Halls Creek will not result in people drinking any less at all. It will just simply move where they're purchasing the liquor from. It will simply be a round trip to Kununurra of 700km, and they'll be back here in six or seven hours.
VOICEOVER: He says he has no choice but to close the doors on the business if he's only allowed to sell light alcohol.
PETER TIERNEY: Well, obviously after the business being in the family for 35 years, we won't feel good about it. It'll be a sad day and unfortunately we will have to battle on.
COLIN BARNETT, WA PREMIER: I would say to anyone that's involved in the alcohol retailing and distribution business, responsibility is what's required. Why should young children, babies be assaulted on a regular basis? No fair-minded Australian can allow that to happen.
PAT DODSON, LINGIARI FOUNDATION: It's a coffin leading to an Aboriginal death, and if the alcohol industry wants to have that on their hands, fine.
VOICEOVER: The alcohol industry's representative says the plan simply won't work.
BRADLEY WOODS, AUSTRALIA HOTELIERS ASSOCIATION: Prohibition's been shown that, in a number of examples throughout this State, interstate and overseas, that it is not a solution to chronic alcoholism, because it simply pushes it underground.
VOICEOVER: The alcohol issue has divided people across the Kimberley, and here in Halls Creek those in favour of alcohol restrictions say they're particularly concerned about the future of their children. The Halls Creek Children's Hostel was created to care for at-risk children. Alcohol is one of the main reasons kids end up here. Many suffer with foetal alcohol syndrome. Other are in a state the Department of Child Protection calls "arrested development".
EMMA WHITE, WA CHILD PROTECTION: Their emotional experience of the alcohol misuse in a family, which has led on to things like environmental neglect, nutritional neglect, they may have witnessed some violence as a result of alcohol misuse.
VOICEOVER: Most people in Halls Creek are against restrictions, but not this group. Doreen Green is one of the town's most outspoken supporters of the plan.
DOREEN GREEN: It's destroying us. It's destroying us as a race of people. It's destroying our language and culture.
VOICEOVER: Her views have drawn plenty of criticism, even death threats. But that hasn't discouraged Doreen from delivering her message - a mantra she's been chanting for years.
DOREEN GREEN: And this is so devastating to our people, and we have to do something. We owe it to our children to do something to make life better for them.
VOICEOVER: Despite the problems, Halls Creek isn't a town full of despair. Many professionals choose to live here. And it seems most people want the same outcome - less alcohol abuse and its scourges - but can't agree on the best way forward. It won't be long until that decision is out of their hands. 000 THROW TO TEASE/BREAK And remember if you'd like to have your say on this issue, visit our website. This week we're asking - do you think enforcing alcohol restrictions is the solution to addressing alcohol related violence and crime in communities? Coming up on Living Black - we meet the folk-singing duo Microwave Jenny. 000 COOKIN' UP A TUNE Welcome back to Living Black. It's not often a band names itself after a kitchen appliance, and that's not the only thing that makes Microwave Jenny unique. Video journalist Kris Flanders met up with the duo in Sydney and discovered the inspiration behind the name. 000 Cookin' up a tune
VOICEOVER: It has to be one of the most original names in music. This talented pair from the Central Coast of NSW go by the name of Microwave Jenny.
BRENDON BONEY: Microwave Jenny comes from the great Australian movie called 'The Castle'.
VOICEOVER: Although it was made in 1997, 'The Castle' still hits the mark with its humour.
VOICEOVER: The folk singing duo were high school sweethearts.
BRENDON BONEY: A lot of things that we hear after the show is like, "You guys look like you're having a lot of fun up there."
TESSA NUKU: But a lot of people also think that we're brother and sister. Yeah, yeah - we're not.
BRENDON BONEY: Yeah, you don't check out your sister while you're singing.
VOICEOVER: Their lively songs and lyrics are inspired by talented singer/songwriters like Van Morrison and Janis Ian.
BRENDON BONEY: I guess our style is just kind of folk.
TESSA NUKU: It's chilled-out pop. If our music was a dance move, it'd be this.
VOICEOVER: At this stage, Microwave Jenny is yet to sign with a record label, instead preferring to self-manage and promote. Using the internet site MySpace has proven to be successful. But as their star continues to rise, it can't be too long before they're picked up by a record label.
BRENDON BONEY: We know a lot about ourselves and what we're capable of, so I think for where we are at the moment we're the best people for us.
VOICEOVER: Things are really cooking for Microwave Jenny and they're keen for 2009 to be a big year.
TESSA NUKU: I think we would like to do another CD and just get more of a fan base.
BRENDON BONEY: Yeah, yeah, try and reach as many people as we can over this year. 000 WRAP/NEXT WEEK And that's the program for today. Next week on Living Black, we speak with Thursday Islanders about the coroner's findings on the sinking of the 'Malu Sara', which killed all five people aboard. We hope that his recommendations are better for us in the Torres Strait who live here and will avoid future incidents like the 'Malu Sara' incident. That's next week on Living Black. Don't forget, if you'd like more information on tonight's program, visit our website, and you can do that by logging on to sbs.com.au/livingblack. Tonight we leave you with more of the Indigenous Mardi Gras float. On behalf of the team, thanks for joining us. I'm Karla Grant. Goodnight.
Source: Living Black, SBS
Your Say: Do you think alcohol restrictions is the solution to addressing alcohol-related violence and crime in communities?
Watch the video
It's the town of Halls Creek that will be most affected.
The state's Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor says it's trying to curb the violence, crime, child abuse and neglect that's troubled the community, but the issue has divided locals.
Some support the bans in a community where it's believed as many as one in four children have foetal alcohol syndrome.
Others say it's not fair that everyone would be affected by the ban. They say prohibition will just move the problem on to other areas while destroying local businesses.
Living Black's presenter, Karla Grant, travelled to the area to hear from the people who are waiting on the decision that may affect their future.
TRANSCRIPT
KIMBERLEY CRACKDOWN Now from the Top End to the Kimberley. Alcohol restrictions are proposed right across the region, which will make it the hardest place in the country to buy full-strength takeaway alcohol. But it's the town of Halls Creek that will be most affected. Authorities say they're trying to curb violence, crime, child abuse and neglect. But some say it won't work. As the WA Government prepares to announce changes, Living Black travelled to Halls Creek to speak with locals about the issue.
VOICEOVER: It's dusk in Halls Creek, gateway to the majestic Bungle Bungles. As the sun falls closer to the horizon, the town's two takeaway alcohol stores are doing their best trade of the day, before closing at 6pm. Many buy their cartons and disappear into the landscape. Drinking is not just a pastime here - for some, it's a way of life. Dr David Shepherd works at Halls Creek's hospital, and says the majority of his work is directly related to alcohol abuse.
DR DAVID SHEPHERD: I have seen things that are so shocking you probably wouldn't even want to know about it. I mean, there are horrible, violent gang rapes that occur. There's been kids left underneath bushes while their mother goes and drinks in the pub, and the kids have died of thirst or hunger while the mother's in there drinking. We have seen kids - 6-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds - drinking.
VOICEOVER: The WA Department of Liquor Licensing wants all takeaway full-strength and mid-strength alcohol to be banned in Halls Creek after two trials held last year showed a significant reduction in assaults, vandalism and other crimes. Police say alcohol is the catalyst.
SNR SGT TIM NORRISH, HALLS CREEK POLICE: We had a ban on cask wine sales and the effect was immediate - probably a 50% reduction in arrests for that particular week, and that's generally the way it works - you take alcohol out of the equation and crime goes down. There's less admissions in the hospital, less trouble in town, that type of thing.
VOICEOVER: Fitzroy Crossing, about 300km west of Halls Creek, introduced a low-strength policy on takeaway drinks in 2007. The scheme was successful in reducing violence, crime and increasing school attendance. Liquor Licensing WA wants to do the same in Halls Creek. A consultation period, which ended last month, attracted a series of complaints from alcohol retailers, businesses and organisations.
LYNETTE CRAIG, HALLS CREEK COUNCIL: It is not the whole town that is drunk and disorderly and belting people up and, you know, interfering with children. From an economic point of view, we fear that the businesses are sort of going to go into decline.
VOICEOVER: Bottle shop owner Peter Tierney understands alcohol is a problem in Halls Creek, but doesn't believe the proposal is the right step to take.
PETER TIERNEY, HALLS CREEK TAVERN: Prohibition of takeaway liquor in Halls Creek will not result in people drinking any less at all. It will just simply move where they're purchasing the liquor from. It will simply be a round trip to Kununurra of 700km, and they'll be back here in six or seven hours.
VOICEOVER: He says he has no choice but to close the doors on the business if he's only allowed to sell light alcohol.
PETER TIERNEY: Well, obviously after the business being in the family for 35 years, we won't feel good about it. It'll be a sad day and unfortunately we will have to battle on.
COLIN BARNETT, WA PREMIER: I would say to anyone that's involved in the alcohol retailing and distribution business, responsibility is what's required. Why should young children, babies be assaulted on a regular basis? No fair-minded Australian can allow that to happen.
PAT DODSON, LINGIARI FOUNDATION: It's a coffin leading to an Aboriginal death, and if the alcohol industry wants to have that on their hands, fine.
VOICEOVER: The alcohol industry's representative says the plan simply won't work.
BRADLEY WOODS, AUSTRALIA HOTELIERS ASSOCIATION: Prohibition's been shown that, in a number of examples throughout this State, interstate and overseas, that it is not a solution to chronic alcoholism, because it simply pushes it underground.
VOICEOVER: The alcohol issue has divided people across the Kimberley, and here in Halls Creek those in favour of alcohol restrictions say they're particularly concerned about the future of their children. The Halls Creek Children's Hostel was created to care for at-risk children. Alcohol is one of the main reasons kids end up here. Many suffer with foetal alcohol syndrome. Other are in a state the Department of Child Protection calls "arrested development".
EMMA WHITE, WA CHILD PROTECTION: Their emotional experience of the alcohol misuse in a family, which has led on to things like environmental neglect, nutritional neglect, they may have witnessed some violence as a result of alcohol misuse.
VOICEOVER: Most people in Halls Creek are against restrictions, but not this group. Doreen Green is one of the town's most outspoken supporters of the plan.
DOREEN GREEN: It's destroying us. It's destroying us as a race of people. It's destroying our language and culture.
VOICEOVER: Her views have drawn plenty of criticism, even death threats. But that hasn't discouraged Doreen from delivering her message - a mantra she's been chanting for years.
DOREEN GREEN: And this is so devastating to our people, and we have to do something. We owe it to our children to do something to make life better for them.
VOICEOVER: Despite the problems, Halls Creek isn't a town full of despair. Many professionals choose to live here. And it seems most people want the same outcome - less alcohol abuse and its scourges - but can't agree on the best way forward. It won't be long until that decision is out of their hands. 000 THROW TO TEASE/BREAK And remember if you'd like to have your say on this issue, visit our website. This week we're asking - do you think enforcing alcohol restrictions is the solution to addressing alcohol related violence and crime in communities? Coming up on Living Black - we meet the folk-singing duo Microwave Jenny. 000 COOKIN' UP A TUNE Welcome back to Living Black. It's not often a band names itself after a kitchen appliance, and that's not the only thing that makes Microwave Jenny unique. Video journalist Kris Flanders met up with the duo in Sydney and discovered the inspiration behind the name. 000 Cookin' up a tune
VOICEOVER: It has to be one of the most original names in music. This talented pair from the Central Coast of NSW go by the name of Microwave Jenny.
BRENDON BONEY: Microwave Jenny comes from the great Australian movie called 'The Castle'.
VOICEOVER: Although it was made in 1997, 'The Castle' still hits the mark with its humour.
VOICEOVER: The folk singing duo were high school sweethearts.
BRENDON BONEY: A lot of things that we hear after the show is like, "You guys look like you're having a lot of fun up there."
TESSA NUKU: But a lot of people also think that we're brother and sister. Yeah, yeah - we're not.
BRENDON BONEY: Yeah, you don't check out your sister while you're singing.
VOICEOVER: Their lively songs and lyrics are inspired by talented singer/songwriters like Van Morrison and Janis Ian.
BRENDON BONEY: I guess our style is just kind of folk.
TESSA NUKU: It's chilled-out pop. If our music was a dance move, it'd be this.
VOICEOVER: At this stage, Microwave Jenny is yet to sign with a record label, instead preferring to self-manage and promote. Using the internet site MySpace has proven to be successful. But as their star continues to rise, it can't be too long before they're picked up by a record label.
BRENDON BONEY: We know a lot about ourselves and what we're capable of, so I think for where we are at the moment we're the best people for us.
VOICEOVER: Things are really cooking for Microwave Jenny and they're keen for 2009 to be a big year.
TESSA NUKU: I think we would like to do another CD and just get more of a fan base.
BRENDON BONEY: Yeah, yeah, try and reach as many people as we can over this year. 000 WRAP/NEXT WEEK And that's the program for today. Next week on Living Black, we speak with Thursday Islanders about the coroner's findings on the sinking of the 'Malu Sara', which killed all five people aboard. We hope that his recommendations are better for us in the Torres Strait who live here and will avoid future incidents like the 'Malu Sara' incident. That's next week on Living Black. Don't forget, if you'd like more information on tonight's program, visit our website, and you can do that by logging on to sbs.com.au/livingblack. Tonight we leave you with more of the Indigenous Mardi Gras float. On behalf of the team, thanks for joining us. I'm Karla Grant. Goodnight.
Source: Living Black, SBS
