Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

I was not here in the late 1700s and, again, I am only making personal observations. I am trying to be helpful. Just to clarify, do not mistake from my answer that it is both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. A substantial amount—at least 50 per cent—of the profit-takers in the delivery of alcohol to communities are Indigenous people. But, in the context of this discussion—and for a whole range of reasons I think it is important to keep it in the context of the provisions we are putting in place to ensure that these communities are kept safe—these provisions reflect what this government is doing. We recognise the close association between alcohol and violence and sexual abuse. That is very clear and you can look to some very good science and some very good material on that. This government has moved, through the prohibition of alcohol provisions in this suite of legislation, to ensure that we can provide an environment where it is much easier to ensure that alcohol does not continue to affect the communities in the way it has in the past.