Sobering-up centres plan panned
The State Government’s announcement that it will trial “sobering-up centres” in Sydney and Wollongong have been condemned as a stunt which could actually put people at risk of further harm, according to opponents of the plan.
Last week, the NSW Government announced it would trial three sobering-up centres – one on George St in the Sydney CBD, one at Coogee in the Eastern Suburbs, and one in Wollongong.
Announcing the plan, NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher said: “It’s about saying to people when you speak to a police officer because of your drunk and disorderly behaviour, the words you utter to that police officer can determine where you spend the night.
“[You can be] in your own bed, or one supplied by us, and the one supplied by us isn’t going to be very comfortable and isn’t going to smell very good,” he told reporters.
However, state Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said the proposal would do nothing to address the issue.
“This is a stunt and doesn’t deal with the real problem,” said Mr Greenwich.
“It’s a furphy to suggest this will be a deterrent. When people are seriously drunk it inhibits their ability to understand consequences and make proper decisions,” he said.
Mr Greenwich called on the government to more strictly enforce responsible service of alcohol (RSA) rules, to stop people getting drunk in the first place, and provide better late night transport so people can get home after a night out.
Police Association of NSW President Scott Weber also weighed in, saying sobering-up centres were not the solution.
“The real solution to alcohol-related violence is reducing trading hours, restricting high alcohol-content drinks and introducing lock-outs,” said Mr Weber. “Those are the measures proven to work.”
Opposition Police Spokesperson Nathan Rees, meanwhile, branded the proposal dangerous.
“The idea that you pour half a dozen or more drunk young people into a cell for a night is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
“This will end up as Barry O’Farrell’s fight club,” he claimed.
