Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for COAG) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (2), (5), (6) and (7) on sheet 7215 revised, standing in Senator Scullion's name, together:

(2)   Clause 3, page 4 (line 14), omit “7 years”, substitute “3 years”.

(5)   Clause 111, page 95 (line 6), omit “7 years”, substitute “3 years”.

(6)   Clause 117, page 97 (line 27), omit “7 years”, substitute “3 years”.

(7)   Clause 117, page 98 (line 3), omit “8 years”, substitute “4 years”.

As stated repeatedly during this debate, and many others which have preceded it in this place, reducing excessive alcohol consumption and the effects of alcohol abuse are fundamental in closing any gaps or eradicating effects of disadvantage. The opposition welcomes the government's long-term commitment to assist Aboriginal people and their communities and to address disadvantage and disconnect. We do welcome the commitment, but, as I mentioned both in my remarks and previously this evening, we do question the process.

It has been made very clear that there is not a single provision in these bills that is not already a pre-existing power of the Northern Territory liquor minister, as contained in the Northern Territory Liquor Act or its supporting regulations. If alcohol abuse is such a problem because the Northern Territory government is simply unable or unwilling to enforce its own laws, then it should not take long to expose that and deliver change, if the federal government is able to enforce the law on its behalf. Conversely, if the federal minister rigidly enforces the existing laws and there is no change, why would you continue to do the same thing over and over for seven years unless you apparently have the same deluded view as the Northern Territory government and expect things to work magically?

The government's proposal to lock into a 10-year plan and to only have a close look at how it is proceeding after seven years is in our view inadequate. Seven years is more than two full terms of parliament. Spending two terms of parliament taking over the enforcement of the existing Northern Territory law before you even review or propose changes is not the sort of leadership that we think is necessary on this matter. We recommend that a review be conducted into these measures after three years, with a report into the review tabled no later than four years after assent. If it works, keep it. If it is failing then change it. We do not believe that we should be waiting seven years to make that assessment. On behalf of Senator Scullion, I commend the amendments to the chamber.