8 June 1991
Mr Eric Poole, MLA
Chairman
Committee on Use And Abuse of Alcohol by the Community
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 3721
Darwin NT 0801
Dear Mr Poole,
ALCOHOL ABUSE AT TI TREE.
During a recent two week stay at Ti Tree I was struck by the
increase in the impact of alcohol sales on the local Aboriginal
people. I have been visiting Ti Tree since 1980.
As you will be aware, the sole source of commercially available
alcohol there is the Ti Tree Roadhouse. As there is no take-away
alcohol available, all alcohol sales at Ti Tree are made over the
counter for consumption on the premises.
Ti Tree was recently in the news again (and we all remember the
earlier occasion) with the kangaroo tail fight between police and
Aboriginal people. From what I understand, the excessive
consumption of alcohol was a factor in that dispute.
The Northern Territory government is obviously well aware of the
problem being caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol at
Ti Tree as it has responded by providing additional police from
Alice Springs on pension day - the day of the fortnight when
Aboriginal people are cashed up.
This occurred during my visit. The patrol car seemed to be
involved in chasing Aboriginal people who appeared to be
excessively intoxicated outside the roadhouse. It seems to me
that they were chasing the wrong people.
Without having seen the conditions attached to the licence for
the sale of alcohol at the Ti Tree Roadhouse, I am certain that
one of those conditions is worded to ensure that the licencee
maintains good order on the premises and does not sell alcohol
to people who have had enough to drink.
The condition of the Aboriginal people at Ti Tree is a direct
indicator, no fancy arguments required, of the abuse of the
conditions of the licence to sell alcohol by the management of
the roadhouse.
Police and health statistics could be gathered to support this
observation. These statistics would also be useful in calculating
the cost to the community. The number of alcohol related air
evacuations alone would probably cancel out any 'economic
benefit' to the local economy from the sale of alcohol.
The Ti Tree situation demonstrates quite clearly that the problem
of alcohol abuse in the community is not due to some intrinsic
failing on the part of the people who drink to excess. After
Curtain Springs, no further documentation is required to prove
that Aboriginal culture has 'no law' for the regulation of
alcohol consumption. The government is well aware of this fact
and this imposes a double burden to ensure proper regulation.
Providing additional police, in this context, cannot be confused
with the proper functions of government.
Accordingly, it would be in the interests of the community for
your Committee to investigate the situation at Ti Tree in
general and to, specifically,:
(A) compile information, through police, health and other
records, on the effects of excessive alcohol consumption at Ti
Tree, and
(B) call the relevant Departmental officer charged with the
responsibility for ensuring that the licencee of the Ti Tree
Roadhouse complies with the conditions of his licence and obtain
detailed reasons as to why he/she is prevented from carrying out
the duties of the position.
Yours truly,
Bruce Reyburn
cc Mr Brian Ede, Member for Stuart.