Candidates to tackle alcohol-fueled violence

QANDA Round two begins on the  issue of alcohol-related violence- a problem prominent throughout the City of Sydney Local Government area.

Question: In your view, how do you propose we deal with alcohol-related violence in the City?

Labor Candidate Sacha Blumen’s response:

Improving safety in and around licensed premises and reducing their impacts on local amenity is a top priority for me. Alcohol-related violence is a terrible problem for inner Sydney. Glassings, stabbings, and even deaths, occur around areas in which licensed premises are concentrated – those areas where our Council has allowed their development to flourish, seemingly unfettered. Top surgeons in St Vincent’s emergency ward have said that admissions resulting from preventable alcohol incidents make up more than 20 per cent of admissions.

I have a strong record of supporting improved safety. I want people to be able to enjoy themselves at night safely in and around licensed premises. I also want local residents to be able to sleep at night without needing to clean broken glass, vomit and urine from their footpaths in the morning. Like many inner city residents, I enjoy the inner city night life but have been concerned about feeling unsafe late at night in parts of the CBD, Oxford St and Kings Cross.

I support local solutions that can be targeted to particular premises and areas. I do not support blanket approaches, which can be unbalanced and unreasonable. I support extending the current state government freeze on new liquor licenses on Oxford St, Kings Cross, the Rocks and lower George St in the CBD for another year. I also support the current state government measures targeting violent incidents at premises where they occur in great numbers. These targeted approaches have led to large reductions in the numbers of violent incidents in some locations.

I have a three-pronged approach to dealing with alcohol-related violence in the City. First, there needs to be strong enforcement of and compliance with laws requiring responsible service of alcohol. This is the responsibility of the premises and their employees.

Second, there needs to be an effective way of preventing problems emerging in the future. To do this, Councils must be enabled to take the cumulative impacts of existing licensed premises into account when they consider applications for new premises or expansions of existing premises.

Third, there may need to be additional targeted measures for individual premises or areas to improve safety and local amenity, where adverse impacts are substantial. My bottom line is that people should be able to enjoy themselves safely at night, and businesses be able to run profitably and successfully, without upsetting the important balance of local amenity.

Current Sydney MP Clover Moore’s response:

I continue to support an interesting and vibrant city night life with many different options for those visiting the City at night; where people can have a good time without becoming victims of violence, where good venues can operate late and residents can get a good night sleep.

I want unsafe and poorly managed venues to be better managed, but and both the Government and Opposition continue to oppose much-needed reform, with anonymous vested interests blocking action.

The City of Sydney’s proposed Late Trading DCP aimed to ensure that unsafe and poorly managed venues are not rewarded with later trading, particularly those where violent, anti-social behaviour results in attacks on patrons, fights spilling out onto the streets, serious disturbances to neighbourhoods and police and paramedics continually being called to respond. The State Government prevented the Council from making these changes, but has offered nothing in its place.

The Land and Environment Court regularly overturns applications which have been refused by Council, and State law reform is needed to help Councils manage the unsustainable growth of licensed premises in some inner city late trading areas.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming needs a more effective complaints system, with more compliance resources.

In response to my lobbying, the Government froze new liquor licences in “hot spots” and requires all late-trading premises to take part in liquor accords. The freeze must continue until we achieve sustainable solutions, including:

– Controls to manage cumulative impacts in areas saturated with licensed premises;

– Late Trading Licensing Permits based on good management;

– Expand exclusions and banning orders against repeat offenders;

– A patron cap of 120 for small bars, a to prevent them “morphing” into larger venues while bypassing controls; and

– A stronger complaints system.

I’ve repeatedly called for increased police to manage the hot spots late at night, and accessible late night public transport to get the large crowds of people home safely. We also need federal reform to alcohol taxation according to its impacts.

My small bars legislation encouraged smaller boutique venues to open in Sydney – an alternative to the “beer barns” that used to dominate. These low impact venues continue to flourish and encourage a unique and diverse culture, not previously seen in Sydney.

Liberal candidate Adrian Bartels’ response:

When the State Labor Government designated Kings Cross and Darlinghurst as “entertainment precincts” it did none of the planning required to manage the tens of thousands of people that this brings in on a weekend.

And in her 22-years as the state member, Clover has not succeeded in putting a single extra police officer on the beat, or in getting the trains to run even a minute later. Not only has Clover done nothing, but the disorder and social disturbance on the streets has become much worse while Clover has done nothing but grandstand.

Now, as Lord Mayor, she has proudly given development approval for 250 new licensed premises in her last term alone.

It is time Clover and her friends in the Labor Government stopped posturing on this issue while actually NOT DOING ANYTHING to fix the problem they have created.

In Government I will implement a whole of government management plan for the late night areas. We must coordinate police, transport and emergency services in genuine consultation with residents and licensed premises. I will argue for better policing, more CCTV in trouble spots and secure taxi ranks. In addition, there will be more frequent late night public transport to get people home safely.

The late night cultures of cities like Paris and Berlin work well and are an important part of these cities for residents and visitors. Our late night economy is vital to Sydney’s economic, social and cultural status as a global city.

Rather than just being seen to do something, I actually will.

Greens candidate De Brierley Newton’s response:

Alcohol –related violence is a complex issue that needs both short and long- term strategies. In the short term, if elected I will continue to work with The Greens at local and state levels consulting with residents, local business people, those people who use the city and the police to discuss successful ways to help minimise the effects of drunkenness, violent behaviour and overcrowded venues.

In the long term I believe a carrot and stick approach is best. The carrot, to reward people whose actions minimise violence and the venues that are actively intolerant of drunkenness. The stick, to punish the bad behaviour of those venues that don’t comply by restricting their operating hours.

– all venues to serve food when they serve alcohol as well as attractive, reasonably priced soft-drink options that go beyond merely ‘mixer drinks.’

– license fees set on a sliding scale that is based both on the volume of alcohol served and the number of patrons allowed in the venue. With repeated violent incidents the opening hours will be restricted. If the violent incidents continue the venue will be closed down.

– discounts for providing live music. This will support local bands, provide dancing and reduce the effects and amount of alcohol consumed.

I will work with the other Greens in parliament to improve transport to get people out of the city and home. It worries me that large numbers of tired people waiting for a taxi or other transport can lead to frustration and increase the possibility of violent behaviour.

We need to look at our planning laws to ensure that ‘entertainment precincts’ don’t extend further into residential areas – an example is the concern over the approval given to the White House at Potts Point.

I also believe we need to look at the bigger picture of why our society considers intoxication equals celebration.

I don’t want to close the city down, I don’t want it taken over by wowsers and I certainly don’t want to see the Coalition’s plan to reintroduce the divisive Drunk and Disorderly Law that turns being drunk into a crime come into effect.

What I do want is a fair go for residents, for venues to take responsibility for the way they serve alcohol and for visitors to treat the city with respect so that everyone can enjoy the life and nightlife of our great city.

If you have a question for the candidates, email: citynews@alternativemediagroup.com