Action on alcohol-related violence

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Jan 2014.

The President of the NSW Council of Churches, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, supports the view of Premier Barry O’Farrell that longer sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences for serious and fatal assaults involving alcohol and other drugs are part of the solution to crack down on alcohol abuse in NSW which appears to be spiralling out of control.

Dr Clifford said “The Newcastle trials demonstrated that earlier pub closing times, lock-outs, and restrictions on the sale of high-alcohol content drinks can significantly reduce alcohol-related violence.  However, we need to see these trials extended across the State, not only in local areas such as the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross.”

The NSW Council of Churches has previously called on the NSW Government to consider harm minimisation measures such as earlier pub closing times, lock-outs, restricting the advertising of alcohol, and raising the legal drinking age in NSW.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.