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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-11-17 Daily Xml
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ANTIVIOLENCE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Substance Abuse, a question about an antiviolence public awareness campaign.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On 7 November, the Minister for Substance Abuse, the Hon. Jane Lomax-Smith, announced a new public awareness campaign aimed at binge drinkers. The campaign is entitled 'Drink too much. It gets ugly', and the slogan is to be printed on ice bags.

The minister may be aware that Professor Paul Mazerolle, Director of Griffith University's Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, recently compiled statistics about youth violence and crime. Professor Mazerolle's research indicates that violent crimes among young people are increasing and the situation is exacerbated by the popularity of the internet and alcohol abuse.

Recently, my attention was alerted to two public awareness campaigns operating interstate: first, in Queensland, the 'One Punch Can Kill' campaign; and in Victoria the 'Step Back. Think' campaign. Both have been highly successful anti-violence campaigns targeted at young adults. Both have been funded and heralded by state Labor governments and the Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd. Both were inspired by tragic events: in the case of the former, a tragic loss of life, and, in the latter case, a permanent brain injury.

South Australia has also suffered the pain and anguish that stems from the fact that one punch can indeed kill. In 2004, one of this state's most well known sportsmen, Mr David Hookes, was tragically killed in Victoria by a reported single blow.

The aim of both the 'One Punch Can Kill' and 'Step Back. Think' campaigns is to make younger people aware that alcohol-fuelled violence can have lifelong ramifications—ramifications that are worth thinking about. It is particularly relevant to consider these issues, given that thousands of year 12 students will descend on Victor Harbor for Schoolies this weekend, as highlighted by the Hon. John Gazzola's earlier question. My questions are:

1. Is the minister aware of either the 'One Punch Can Kill' or 'Step Back. Think' campaigns?

2. Will the minister research both initiatives and investigate the feasibility of establishing a South Australian anti-violence public awareness campaign, based on the 'One Punch Can Kill' or 'Step Back. Think' campaigns, and complementing the 'Drink too much. It gets ugly' campaign?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. I am happy to refer them to the Minister for Substance Abuse and bring back a response. However, I think there are some things that I can put on the record in terms of trying to address the problem of binge drinking and excessive drinking, particularly amongst young people. We know that a number of things contribute to acts of violence. It is a complex thing, but we do know that there is a strong link between violence and assaults and alcohol use.

The government has been involved in a number of initiatives. Responsible consumption of alcohol initiatives developed and promoted by the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner include: 'That next drink' initiative, which is a campaign to remind drinkers that every extra drink increases their risk; the 'Safe partying' initiative, which is information provided to assist parents, families and communities to develop harm minimisation strategies that address alcohol consumption at parties or special events, and that has been developed collaboratively with agencies such as SAPOL, DECS and DASSA; manufacturers such as Coopers and retailers such as Woolworths being encouraged to include responsible consumption messages in their advertising and on liquor packaging; and the production of a wallet card providing information about alcohol and the law, and promoting the responsible service of alcohol for young people. Further, of course, we have legislation that has been tabled addressing new liquor licensing provisions that look at improving the responsible service of alcohol and also improving the code of conduct generally for liquor licence holders.

We also have things like the responsible consumption of alcohol message that is promoted at festival events. I have outlined in detail here today a list of activities and initiatives that will be in place at Schoolies to help promote responsible behaviour and bring about harm minimisation. Also, a Teenage Parties and Alcohol—A Parent's Guide brochure, which features party tips and outlines legal responsibilities, is widely circulated to schools, council offices and police stations.

Of course, the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner is also involved in the development of the South Australian Alcohol Action Plan in conjunction with SAPOL, DASSA and representatives from other agencies. The plan deals with a number of priorities in terms of reducing the incidence of intoxication amongst drinkers, enhancing public safety and amenity, improving health outcomes amongst individuals and communities affected by alcohol consumption, and facilitating safer and healthier drinking cultures, to mention a few.

I am very pleased to say that our federal government has put its money where its mouth is in relation to a number of really important initiatives. Members will be aware that the Prime Minister has made a number of public statements since the beginning of the year expressing his concern about the levels of binge drinking in Australia. This culminated in the announcement of a $53 million National Binge Drinking Strategy on 10 March last year.

This message is aimed particularly at young Australians and it focuses on three main areas: $14.4 million over four years to invest in community level initiatives to confront the culture of binge drinking, particularly amongst sporting groups; $19.1 million over four years to intervene earlier to assist young people to ensure that they assume responsibility for their binge drinking; and $20 million to fund advertising that confronts young people with the costs and consequences of binge drinking.

I am not too sure whether the One Punch Can Kill campaign is being considered by the federal government. I am sure that it will be looking at a wide range of initiatives, particularly evidence-based activities, that show that they are bringing about some change in behaviour.

They are some of the things that are in place. As I said, I am happy to pass on the rest of that question to the appropriate minister in another place and bring back a response.

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