WUNRN
AUSTRALIA - FILM OF FITZROY CROSSING
WOMEN'S SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
AGAINST ALCOHOL ABUSE
& SOCIETAL DESTRUCTION - PRESENTED
DURING 2009 UN COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN
AUSTRALIA - FITZROY CROSSING -
ABORIGINAL WOMEN'S VICTORY
FOR TOUGH ALCOHOL
RESTRICTIONS
September 11, 2007
The
toughest alcohol restrictions in Western Australia look set to be imposed on
the troubled Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing.
After weeks of intense lobbying by a group of Aboriginal women, the Director of Liquor Licensing, Barry Sargeant, has revealed plans to ban the sale of full and midstrength packaged liquor for a period of six months.
Mr Sargeant says the ban will apply to liquor with alcohol content of more than 2.7 percent - which effectively rules out everything apart from low-strength beer.
He has given the town's licensees two weeks to demonstrate why the restrictions should not be imposed .
The proposed ban is expected to anger some locals who signed a petition against the move.
Local indigenous leader, Joe Ross, has described the decision as gutless.
" I think it's a reflection of how out of touch people like Barry Sargeant are of struggling remote and rural communities," he said.
The Premier Alan Carpenter says he welcomes the restrictions.
"I think this is a good outcome," he said.
"I accept that there is a significant issue in Fitzroy Crossing related to the consumption of alcohol, and reducing take-away sales to light beer only for a period of six months will give that community an opportunity to address those problems."
The local women who fought for the ban have been congratulated by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
Michelle Roberts supported the Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre leaders June Oscar and Emily Carter in their bid for a 12 month ban.
She says she is hopeful it will be granted following the six month trial.
"I congratulate June Oscar and Emily Carter. It would seem that the Director of Liquor Licensing Barry Sargeant has listened to their concerns," she said.
"He's not proposing a 12 month ban but a six month ban and he's always got the opportunity to extend that ban should it be seen to be working."
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