“Not enough” : KAMS responds to new alcohol restrictions

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services has slammed new liquor restrictions for Broome and Derby, saying they fall short of addressing the alcohol-fuelled crime rampant in the region. Liquor licensing director Lanie Chopping on Wednesday announced the harsher alcohol limitations for the two north-west towns, which would see a reduction in takeaway alcohol for purchase and liquor store operating hours. From July 15 the sale of alcohol on Sundays and Mondays in Derby will be completely banned. And Broome bottleshops’ operating hours will be slashed three hours, from 11am-10pm down to 12pm-8pm. The towns will also follow strict daily purchase limits, with takeaway sales limited to a single carton of full-strength beer per customer per day or, alternatively, two bottles of wine, one litre of spirits or one litre of fortified wine. But KAMS said their stance remains unchanged. “KAMS reiterates its Call to Action from 15 February 2024: liquor restrictions alone are not enough. We need simultaneous investment in comprehensive alcohol and other drugs services, planning, and infrastructure,” it said in a statement. The organisation — which operates a network of Aboriginal Medical Services across the region — stressed the devastating impact alcohol has had on Aboriginal communities across the region. It emphasised that a multi-pronged approach is crucial to counter the “harmful effects of alcohol and other drug misuse on Kimberley people, families, and communities”. “While we do not oppose restrictions, they must be part of a holistic Aboriginal-led approach that includes health, social, and diversionary strategies,” KAMS said. In February KAMS put forward a Call to Action, which requested government funding for services including a wellness centre and withdrawal detox service in Derby. KAMS chief executive Vicki O’Donnell said the organisation was knocked back, saying it “cannot commit to funding these services”. “The need for immediate investment in alcohol and other drugs services, on the ground, is not new,” Ms O’Donnell said. “We shouldn’t have to wait for this planning exercise to be completed to get started on these solutions already identified by local communities.” KAMS is committed to keeping its Call to Action at the forefront of discussions with the State Government.