Minister visits Carnarvon amid community concerns that liquor accord could hurt tourism and sales

Booze restrictions, including removing full-strength alcohol from immediate view in stores and having purchase limits at certain times of day, are on the radar of Carnarvon’s new liquor accord. Racing and Gaming Minister Reece Whitby visited Carnarvon last week to hear stakeholders’ concerns surrounding alcohol-related harm and dysfunction in the community after a liquor accord was set up. The shire president said it was time to have some difficult conversation for businesses, while the local MP, who is also a publican, said the impact of any liquor restrictions on tourism also needed to be considered. The accord, made up representatives from licenced premises, the Shire of Carnarvon, WA Police and Department of Health, aims to develop a safe drinking culture and minimise harm in the community. Recommended changes included removing high-strength alcohol from immediate view in stores and making minimal quantities of alcohol available after a certain time of night — for example one six-pack of full-strength beer per person after 6pm. It is up to individual outlets whether to introduce the changes. It is understood that no Carnarvon business has imposed the recommendations so far. Shire president and chair of the accord Eddie Smith said local liquor outlets would be impacted by the changes and were concerned about their business. He said reducing the impact of alcohol in the community was a difficult subject for businesses who didn’t want to be impacted. “For these businesses they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. It’s a difficult position at the moment, because businesses say they’re struggling but alcohol intake in the town is high and domestic violence and crime continues to rise,” he said. Cr Smith said “shocking” statistics revealed Carnarvon’s liquor consumption contributed to incidents of domestic violence eight times higher than in the metropolitan area. “That’s quite an alarming figure,” he said. Mr Whitby said the accord was considering what measures would be best in responding to alcohol-related harm and antisocial behaviour. He urged the group to submit a proposal to the independent WA Director of Liquor Licensing. Member for North West Central and Carnarvon Port Hotel owner Merome Beard, who sits on the accord as an observer, said the current recommendations would “clearly put pressure on businesses” and more wrap-around services were needed to tackle crime in the town. “The liquor accord is proactive in making good decisions in terms of what might assist alcohol management in the town,” she said. “The accord is there to give confidence to the liquor and gaming department that something is being done.” “There’s a number of things that need to happen in that space, not just the liquor accord, and education is a significant lever that we need to work towards. “Neglect of children, safe houses for children, return of regional managers and decision makers in Government departments to make decisions and changes when they need to.” Ms Beard said changes were affecting bottle shops and takeaway sales at venues, heavily impacting tourism in the town and the accord was processing how to best manage the new recommendations. “The people in the community are doing the right thing and the tourism is something you need to consider,” she said. A spokesperson for BWS Endeavour Group said it supported the accord process and would keep working with all stakeholders in this space. Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Paul Dixon said members had not aired their concerns to the chamber but had spoken with hotels and bottle shops. “My understanding is that there are responsible community members who are very keen to adopt this accord. There were areas of the document they wanted to revisit,” he said. “The chamber is really keen to continue its association with the accord and if our members have any dramas they can speak to us to advocate on their behalf.” The minister told Cr Eddie Smith he understood the problems that Carnarvon faced and understood businesses wanted to be impacted as little as possible. “It’s going to take a bit of work, and if people are patient we can get through it,” Cr Smith said. The minister was asked to visit again in time for the total solar eclipse in April. There have been ongoing calls for Premier Mark McGowan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to also visit the crime-plagued town, which have gone unanswered so far. Earlier this month, the only pub and bottle shop in the northern Goldfields town of Laverton imposed temporary liquor restrictions to combat alcohol-fuelled violence.