Calls for states to change alcohol laws ahead of women’s ministers meeting
Jess Hill was on the rapid review panel that examined how to best prevent violence against women and children. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
In short:
The states and territories promised to review liquor laws following a major review into how to prevent violence against women and children.
Advocates say most jurisdictions are not acting with the urgency required.
What's next?
State and federal women’s ministers will meet in Canberra and online on Friday.
States and territories must answer for being too slow to amend alcohol regulations at today's women's ministers meeting, family and sexual violence prevention advocates say.
Ministers for women will meet in Canberra and online on Friday with the federal, state and territory governments to deliver updates on how they plan to address recommendations of a rapid review into how to stop violence against women and children.
The review, conducted by National Cabinet following a spike in domestic homicides last year, made 21 recommendations, including the need for a full gambling ad ban plus reviewing and limiting immediate late-night alcohol deliveries.
The ACT has since introduced legislation to restrict same-day alcohol home delivery.
Tasmania will undertake a review of liquor-licensing laws, though the inquiry is focused on "cutting red tape."
New South Wales looked at liquor delivery regulations in 2023, before the rapid review, but the inquiry focused on minors' access to the service and social media advertising.
South Australia has proposed a two-hour buffer period between ordering and receiving.
The rapid review recommended longer wait times be imposed between the order and delivery of alcohol to homes. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)
The changes were also recommended by the separate South Australian Royal Commission into Family, Sexual and Domestic Violence.
But advocates say they are frustrated that the changes are unlikely to come before at least mid-next year because the parliament is not expected to sit again before the state election.
Rapid review panel member Jess Hill says states must follow through on their promises. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
'A lot of backroom talk,' advocate says
Advocate and industry professor at University of Technology Sydney Jess Hill sat on the panel that undertook the rapid review in 2024.
She said the premiers who commissioned the review, and their ministers, must explain what they have done since their promise to review alcohol regulations.
"This is such a no-brainer — these are the sorts of regulations on alcohol that are recommended at global levels for reducing violence," Ms Hill told the ABC.
She argued that the panel's recommendations were "not that much to ask" compared to the lockout laws imposed in New South Wales following the deaths of young men.
Ms Hill said progress had occurred in some areas federally, including an audit of government services to stop them being weaponised by perpetrators, but was lagging in other areas, such as changes within the health system.
"I feel like there's a lot of backroom talk about that, but not the kind of leadership that we want to see there really centring that as a key prevention lever," she said.
The high-profile anti-violence campaigner said the federal government's failure to enact a full ban on gambling advertising — a key recommendation of the rapid review — was disappointing.
A parliamentary inquiry into gambling ads that was led by late Labor MP Peta Murphy also recommended a full ban.
That idea is supported by the Greens, independents and — mostly privately — a number of government MPs.
"I just don't understand — we've got the social licence, we've got the evidence," Ms Hill said.
"There are victim-survivors for whom the gambling and the alcohol is like jet fuel … it exacerbates and makes unpredictable the incidents of extreme violence that can happen when the perpetrator is drunk or just after the perpetrator has lost money."
The federal government has defended the decision to not introduce a full ban.
There is an established link between alcohol and violence against women and children. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Questions over lobby's impact on state laws
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) chief executive Ayla Chorley said the states and territories have not acted on their promise to review alcohol laws with the urgency required.
"It's not been easy in the past to get reform in relation to alcohol, and that's because we know that the alcohol industry is incredibly powerful and they lobby very, very hard against common sense measures," she said.
Ayla Chorley is concerned lobbying from bodies representing the alcohol industry is holding back "common sense" changes. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)
Ms Chorley said the federal government must not pass the buck on alcohol rules to the states.
"It may be that the states review their liquor acts absolutely, but the federal government has a role to play in ensuring that is followed through and using the incredible voice that they have to reinforce how important this is," she said.
A spokesman for Alcohol Beverages Australia said the industry condemned violence and supported a "whole-of-community" approach to stopping it.
"Domestic and family violence is complex, tragic, and a crime," he said.
"As a responsible industry, we are committed to continuing our work with governments, health groups, and communities to embed evidence-based initiatives that address the root causes of violence and promote safer environments for all."
Alcohol and other drug use can be a risk factor for family, domestic and sexual violence, according to the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare.
"It has been associated with both perpetration and victimisation and may precede or follow violence," its website reads.
"Intimate partner violence incidents involving alcohol or drug use were more likely to result in physical injury than incidents that did not involve alcohol or drug use."