Tough new laws for banned drinkers register leave Gascoyne leader Merome Beard asking for more support

Tough new laws strengthening the banned drinkers register came into effect last week, allowing police to place alcohol-related offenders on the list directly. The introduction of a beefed-up BDR on Thursday requires licensees and their staff to scan the ID of customers before allowing any purchase of takeaway alcohol. Police can list people for any alcohol-related offence, not just those committed inside a licensed venue. Health professionals and specialised frontline workers will also have the authority to refer people. As of Sunday, there were six people registered as banned drinkers in the Gascoyne region. Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Paul Dixon said that number was small and he hoped more people would be listed under the new changes. “There’s not a lot of people on there but hopefully those that need to go on it will and the number grows,” he said. Mr Dixon welcomed the strengthened register, saying it would only benefit the town, but he said it needed to be implemented Statewide to avoid people going undetected in other parts of WA. “The banned drinkers register is an important tool that the appropriate authorities can use to single out the cause of the problem within these towns,” he said. “With that said, it’s important to remember that the abuse of alcohol isn’t limited to north of Geraldton, the Kimberley or Kalgoorlie, it’s such an important tool it should be used Statewide.” Member for North West Central Merome Beard said the community had been asking for tougher laws for years and it was a good thing, but there was a need for more wraparound support services in the Gascoyne town. “The strengthening of it is good but it’s only one piece of a very large puzzle in terms of solutions,” she said. Ms Beard said rehabilitation services, suicide prevention services, a men’s refuge, transitional housing, and a 24/7 safe house for children were either lacking or non-existent in Carnarvon. “It’s been called for for a long, long time and it’s targeting a specific group of people, but the wraparound services need strengthening in every aspect,” she said.