APY Lands, Alcohol Sales

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:49): A supplementary: does the Attorney have confidence in the current legislative framework that is in place, or does he think that further changes need to be made?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for her question. If there were suggestions put forward we would be absolutely open to looking at those suggestions. It is currently illegal to have alcohol in the APY lands and, as the recent publicity shows, it is enforced by the police.

As I also said, there are schemes available outside legislative change, like changing the ability for alcohol to be supplied in areas that the authorities know can be points where alcohol is purchased to be brought into the APY lands. So yes, there is that ability, as currently happens under the liquor licensing regime, to attempt to restrict supply. However, if there are further legislative suggestions we are more than open to looking at those.