East Kimberley shire pushes for improvements to banned drinkers’ register over tougher liquor restrictions

East Kimberley leaders have hit back against a bid to further tighten local alcohol restrictions and are instead calling for boosted efforts to increase the scope of the banned drinkers’ register to curb alcohol-fuelled crime. The prospect of a clampdown on already heightened alcohol restrictions across the Kimberley has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, after the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries extended its response time for comment on an inquiry into a Section 64 of the Liquor Control Act. The inquiry is looking to determine whether restrictions should be imposed on the availability of packaged liquor in Kununurra, Wyndham, Broome, Derby, Wickham, Point Samson, Karratha, Dampier, and Newman. This includes exploring whether anything but light alcohol should be made available for takeaway in the towns; a move supported by WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley chief executive Vernon Lawrence said instead of focusing on implementing further restrictions, the State Government should be improving the functionality of the BDR trial, which at present has just over 100 people registered across the Kimberley and Pilbara. He said changes needed to be made to give police the power to more easily register problem drinkers on to the system. “If you don’t have a system to get names on to the register, of course, it’s going to fail,” Mr Lawrence said. Mr Lawrence said the introduction of Section 64 legislation would have a major impact on the majority of East Kimberley residents who were responsible drinkers, while failing to significantly reduce alcohol-related crime. “We don’t believe that going to light alcohol only achieves anything; all you have to do is look at Halls Creek which has had light alcohol in for a number of years,” he said. “It has not stopped the drinking at all; all it does is create sly grogging and there’s a black market for alcohol.” Kununurra and Wyndham Alcohol Accord chair Darren Spackman backed calls for improvements to the BDR in a letter to the director of liquor control and arbitration Peter Minchin. Mr Spackman said the BDR was currently an underutilised tool and, despite its potential, was having no real impact. “The accord supports more work being done immediately to increase the scope of the BDR to ensure it is a functional and effective tool and has a direct impact on those people dealing with unacceptable alcohol-related behavior,” he said. He said further restrictions to take away alcohol would likely lead to an increase in the use of illegal drugs, grog running, and the movement of alcohol-dependent persons to other towns where booze was more easily accessible.