Carnarvon banned drinkers register begins as strengthened legislation is introduced to Parliament

The banned drinkers register is now operating in Carnarvon after a Bill strengthening legislation was tabled, with 12 Gascoyne residents so far registered for the scheme. Alcohol service centres around Carnarvon introduced the ID scanning device last week as part of the banned drinkers register rollout, aimed at tackling problem drinking and alcohol related harm in the community. New figures this week revealed 292 people across the Pilbara, Kimberley, Goldfields and Gascoyne were on the banned drinkers register, with 12 of them being from the Gascoyne, or Carnarvon area. The Liquor Control Amendment Bill to strengthen the banned drinkers register was introduced to Parliament on Thursday, May 18, with the Lower House scheduled to debate the matter in June. The Bill will allow medical professionals and social workers as well as police to place a person on the register for alcohol-related offending such as violence and drink-driving, and not just for being in or near licensed premises. The new legislation will also require online liquor retailers to check the register before allowing a sale, make it an offence for a supplier to knowingly supply alcohol to a banned individual and give police power to seize or dispose of liquor in a registered person’s possession. Customers are only allowed one carton of beer with an alcohol content of up to 6 per cent, two bottles or a 1.5-litre cask of wine, or one litre of spirits. The wine must be priced at least $15 per bottle or cask. Where a product is available in cans, it should not be sold in glass containers. Carnarvon business owner Benjamin Broeder said in a region that was already struggling to attract workers, the alcohol restrictions were a reason for people to turn down an offer to live and work in Carnarvon. “The sad reality is that those restrictions are the most ineffective way of addressing any problems that anyone could come up with. They are literally the equivalent of suggesting that maybe we all stand in the main street and hop on one leg while we hold our hands above our head,” he said. “That would have an equal effect of solving the problems that are going on in the region.” Mr Broeder said as a resident, he hadn’t noticed any reduction in crime since the restrictions were enforced at the beginning of May. “There’s still just as many break and enters, there’s just as many robberies, there’s just as many assaults and public disruption and antisocial behaviour in the streets as there was before, it’s made absolutely no impact,” he said. “I think that’s something a lot of other locals can attest to. “We don’t mind doing it if we can see light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s just a band-aid measure that has been put in so that a box can be ticked.” Carnarvon small business operator Ken Coatz said the alcohol consumption rates were high in Carnarvon because it was the last stop for tourists. “Everyone will say ‘wow’, look at how much grog comes out of Carnarvon, even though we’ve only got a small population, but that’s why the alcohol distribution is so high in Carnarvon,” he said. “Everyone is portraying Carnarvon as this terrible town, but it’s a nice little town. It’s the same in any town, there’s a few bad eggs that spoil it for everyone.” Mr Coatz said he enjoyed a beer after work, but was a diabetic and could no longer purchase his usual low-sugar Carlton Dry stubbies when other’s could purchase Corona stubbies because they weren’t available in cans. “I work hard, it’s hot and I enjoy a beer after work. Why go to work and not be able to enjoy your favourite beer all because of the select few who can’t control themselves?” he said. “I can still buy my Carlton Dry but I’m just gonna have to drink it out of cans, simple. But it’s just very, very contradictory.”