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D'Souza, Carl; Houston, Jacqui --- "NSW Alcohol Summit: Talking About Grog" [2003] IndigLawB 44; (2003) 5(26) Indigenous Law Bulletin 4


NSW Alcohol Summit: Talking About Grog

by Carl D’Souza and Jacqui Houston

The New South Wales (‘NSW’) Alcohol Summit (‘the Summit’) was held at Parliament House in Sydney from 26–29 August 2003. The Summit brought together experts, industry representatives, community members and other interested groups to consider strategies to address alcohol abuse in NSW. Prior to the commencement of the Summit, the NSW Department for Aboriginal Affairs hosted a one-day forum called Talking About Grog (‘the Forum’) to discuss strategies to address alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities, and make recommendations to the Summit. Sixty Aboriginal people from all over NSW attended the Forum, including many elders and community leaders. They all had a personal understanding about the devastating effects of grog through their own experiences and the experience of their families and communities.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Andrew Refshauge, who attended the Forum, noted that 30 percent of Aboriginal people do not drink. This is a much higher proportion than in the non-Aboriginal population. However, many Aboriginal people drink to excess and this leads to problems. Linda Burney MP chaired the Forum and summarised its outcomes in a speech to the Summit. She informed the Summit that alcohol abuse is symptomatic of the grief, loss and trauma associated with dispossession. This has lead to cultural breakdown, family and community dysfunction, and intergenerational trauma. It also contributes to the ongoing disadvantage and suffering that confronts Aboriginal people today, and thus a dangerous cycle is perpetuating itself. She said that ‘grog is used to replace the pain and loss and to escape the ongoing trauma within our communities. It has become endemic’. Linda observed that the problem of alcohol abuse within Aboriginal communities cannot be addressed in isolation because it is linked with other problems such as domestic violence, bad health and low life expectancy.

A number of principles for addressing alcohol abuse in Aboriginal communities were laid down by the delegates to the Forum, including:

Aboriginal people are best placed to determine local solutions. Aboriginal community leadership must be validated. This Summit cannot override the need to address unfinished business ... A long-term approach to this problem is necessary. [There is a] need for a whole-of-government approach ... [T]he family is the key to rebuilding Aboriginal communities. Communities need support in strengthening and enhancing their capacity ... Aboriginal people have inequitable access to services and Aboriginal services are under-resourced.[1]

In addition, the Forum made 50 recommendations to the Summit on what action should be taken to address Aboriginal alcohol abuse. These included that:

  • The Summit should not impose any new offences or penalties which will impact disproportionately on Aboriginal people.
  • Alcohol abuse prevention strategies in Aboriginal communities should be community-based and community-owned. This may be achieved by developing and using local leadership and Indigenous workers at all stages of programs, implementing programs which build capacity within local communities to work on their solutions, and ensuring the accessibility and appropriateness of mainstream services to the community through consultation with them, among other measures.
  • Any prohibition or regulation of alcohol must not be imposed on communities, but rather initiated and driven by communities if they are going to work.
  • There should be services specifically for Aboriginal women, which take into account unique social family structures that exist in Indigenous societies.
  • There must be compulsory cultural education for frontline workers and other workers who come into contact with Aboriginal clients with alcohol and other drug issues.
  • A statewide liquor accord should be developed with Aboriginal communities which can be applied locally, including improved monitoring and enforcement of responsible service of alcohol legislation.
  • There must be an increase in Indigenous community involvement in the liquor licensing application process. There must be a review of the conditions of licenses, including a review of trading hours and the responsible service of alcohol.
  • There must be development of recruitment and transfer procedures to improve suitability of police officers transferring to Aboriginal communities. For example, selection criteria for officers transferred to Aboriginal communities should include a demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Aboriginal issues, there should be a specific induction program for police transferred to Aboriginal communities, and there should be more proactive recruitment of Aboriginal police.

For more comprehensive information on the outcomes of the NSW alcohol summit see the NSW Parliament website and click the link to the NSW Alcohol Summit: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au


[1] Linda Burney, Speech to the Alcohol Summit, Alcohol Summit: Report of Proceedings – First Day, 26 August 2003, <www.parliament.nsw.gov.au>

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