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Hastings Liquor Accord: Posters and Campaigns

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Hastings Liquor Accord: Posters and Campaigns

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ANTI-ALCOHOL FUELLED VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN BY JWT SYDNEY CALLS FOR IT ALL TO STOP BEfORE IT GETS UGLY

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ANTI-ALCOHOL FUELLED VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN BY JWT SYDNEY CALLS FOR IT ALL TO STOP BEfORE IT GETS UGLY

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A bloodied victim of alcohol-fuelled violence carries a high impact message to would-be aggressors and their friends in a new campaign launched by the NSW Government and JWT Sydney; "Stop Before it Gets Ugly".

Developed for the NSW Government, the campaign targets potential aggressors and those who can influence their behaviour in an attempt to reduce the number of people that are victim to alcohol-related acts of violence in NSW. The campaign will run throughout summer.

This is the first NSW Government advertising campaign to focus specifically on alcohol-fuelled violence.

"The challenge is that few people see themselves as a potential aggressor or victim and that drives self exclusion from messaging." said JWT Sydney's General Manger, Jenny Willits.

"Our strategy therefore is to talk to people about something they do acknowledge - their drinking behaviour - rather than talk about violence. We don't ask them to stop drinking or stop having fun; but rather to be aware that there is a tipping point when alcohol consumption can change their behaviour. The aim is to persuade them to think about stopping or slowing down before they reach that point."

The result is the "Stop Before it Gets Ugly" campaign, spearheaded by two commercials - 'Aggressor' and 'Influencer' - which will be shown on FTA, Online TV and Cinema.

JWT Sydney ECD, Simon Langley, said these two executions aimed to grab the attention of two main target audiences to drive home the effect that drinking beyond your tipping point can have, by using the perspective of an injured victim of an alcohol fuelled act of violence.

"Our primary target in the campaign is would-be aggressors. These are usually young men aged 18 to 35 who regularly go out drinking with their mates. They are decent, likeable guys who wouldn't normally behave in a violent or anti-social way, but need to be reminded that with too many drinks, things can quickly turn ugly," he said.

"We also developed a second execution to speak to 'influencers'; the friends and family of these would-be aggressors who may be able to help curb excessive drinking and the resulting behaviour."

"Throughout the campaign we aim to convey messages from the victim's perspective, and the social, physical and emotional consequences that alcohol fuelled violence can have," Langley continued. "By having a potential victim of an assault communicate with his future attacker, it depicts in a startling way the damage that could be done after just a few more drinks."

"We also believe that the tagline of "Stop Before it Gets Ugly" is a very confronting, and immediate encapsulation of the behaviour change that we all seek to make our State's streets safer."

The TVCs are supported by OOH activity (standard sites and specially-built mirrored panels depicting a gaol cell), in-venue activity including ATMs in pubs/clubs/bars, posters and coasters, and social media, which incorporates paid advertising on Facebook to prompt behaviour change at key times. All utilise the tagline "Stop Before it Gets Ugly", and also highlight other consequences of losing control including legal, social and emotional implications.

JWT Sydney was appointed to develop the creative campaign following a pitch earlier this year. Its idea received extremely positive consumer testing before being developed into a full campaign.

Executive Creative Director: Simon Langley

Creative Director: John Lam

Creative Group Head: Laurie Geddes

Executive Planning Director: Angela Morris

Account Management: Anne Gibson, Rachel Wintle

Producers: Amanda Slatyer (Broadcast), Rachel Townsend (Print)

Director: Michael Spiccia (Good Oil Films)

Photographer: Simon Harsent

Production: Good Oil Producers - Juliet Bishop (EP), Ben Scandrett-Smith (Producer)

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Anti-alcohol fueled violence campaign by JWT Sydney calls for it all to Stop Before it Gets Ugly

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A bloodied victim of alcohol-fuelled violence carries a high impact message to would-be aggressors and their friends in a new campaign launched by the NSW Government and JWT Sydney; "Stop Before it Gets Ugly".Developed for the NSW Government, the campaign targets potential aggressors and those who c

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The Camden/Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee recently worked in partnership with the Camden Liquor Accord and Camden Council to develop a poster on Alcohol and Domestic Violence.

The Camden Liquor Accord have agreed for this poster to be shown in every bottle shop in the Camden LGA. All pubs/hotels in the Camden LGA will also be approached to see if they will display the poster too. All sporting clubs in the area are also encouraged to have the poster displayed where alcohol is served.

The project is a fantastic initiative and shows a clear community attitude towards saying NO to Domestic Violence.

If you would like to get a copy of this poster, please contact Tanya Whitehouse: twhitehouse@maclegal.net.au

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The Camden/Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee recently worked in partnership with the Camden Liquor Accord and Camden Council to develop a poster on Alcohol and Domestic Violence. The Camden Liquor Accord have agreed for this poster to be shown in every bottle shop in the Camden LGA.

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A new ad campaign called "You Haven't Been Drinking Alone" has been accused of using inaccurate data to shame parents.

The ad shows children mimicking the drinking behaviour of the adults around them in a Zoom-style format.

"I've learnt to be a glass-half-full kind of girl," says one.

"Just sucking the guts out of a few cold ones," says another. "It's gotta be 12 o'clock somewhere, right?"

The ad campaign was created following a poll conducted by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of more than 1000 Australian parents finding that one in four parents reported an increased intake of alcohol during COVID-19.

However, Andrew Wilsmore (above), Chief Executive Officer, Alcohol Beverages Australia, said the ad campaign isn't an accurate representation of drinking habits during COVID-19.

Beer, wine and spirit producers have reported April as their worst trading month on record. This is supported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 'Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey' which reveals 9.5% of Australians are drinking less, 47.1% are drinking the same amount, 14.4% are drinking more, and 28.9% continued to abstain.

Of those that choose to drink, independent research has shown they are drinking at moderate levels of around eight standard drinks a week - well within official advice.

"Having a drink in Australia is a social activity. Watching the footy with mates, a few drinks after work at the pub or a family barbecue on the weekend," Wilsmore said.

"The shutdown ended all of that. The fact Australians have tried to replace just a few of these lost moments with a drink with friends over Zoom isn't something that needs demonising, especially when per capita consumption is at 50-year lows, underage drinking is at its lowest point on record, and our youngest generation is drinking more responsibly than any before them."

Watch the ad below:

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New anti-drinking ad campaign "demonises" parents

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A new ad campaign called "You Haven't Been Drinking Alone" has been accused of using inaccurate data to shame parents. The ad shows children mimicking the drinking behaviour of the adults around them in a Zoom-style format. "I've learnt to be a glass-half-full kind of girl," says one.

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Stop Before It Gets Ugly 30 sec TVC - "Aggressor"

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One punch can be lethal, and thrown without warning or gloves can be deadly. One punch can ruin lives.The One Punch Law campaign is aimed at preventing senseless violence among young people, and about stopping them from making split-second decisions that could ruin their lives or the lives of others.

"The further roll out of this campaign and its message that one punch can kill continues the NSW Government's push to bring about the cultural change required to rid society of this moronic behaviour," NSW Premier Barry Mr O'Farrell said.

On 30 January 2014 the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament added two new offence's to the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW): assault causing death, and an aggravated version of that offence where the offender is intoxicated at the time of committing the offence.

Expanded lockout zone stretches from Kings Cross to Darling Harbour. Under the laws, there will be a mandatory 1:30am lockout for licensed premises across an expanded Sydney CBD entertainment precinct, spanning from Kings Cross to Darling Harbour.

Drinks will not be allowed to be served after 3:00am, but premises can remain open.

Small bars, casinos, restaurants and tourist accomodation facilities will be exempt from the laws.

The new laws added to the one punch law includes:

New sentences for 'one punch' assaults
A 20 year maximum sentence for anyone who unlawfully assaults another who dies as a direct or indirect result of the assault. If the offender was intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, a minimum of eight years and a maximum 25 year sentence applies.

Existing maximum sentences increased by two years
For serious assaults where drugs and alcohol are involved, existing maximum sentences will increase by two years, and mandatory minimum sentences have been introduced.

Voluntary intoxication removed as a mitigating factor in sentencing
Voluntary intoxication by drugs or alcohol will be removed as a mitigating factor when courts determine sentences.

Drug and alcohol testing for suspected offenders
Police can conduct drug and alcohol testing when they suspect an offender has committed an alcohol or drug fuelled violent assault.

The one punch law is an effective legal response as outlines how young people act while intoxicated and how their actions reflect their judgement. The one punch law is effective in achieving justice for the victim as the suspect will be incarcerated for their actions and suffer the consequences of their actions. The one punch law and the advertisement (shown above) is resource efficient, accessible to individuals and it meets the society needs of protecting young individuals. The advertisement is resource efficient and its accessible to individuals, as its advertised on the TV and its advertised in some shops to spread awareness that a single punch ruin anyone's life. This legal response is meeting the needs of the Australian society as its aimed to protect and prevent young individuals from making or choosing a split-second decision that can ruin their own life or the life of other people around them.

This media article is based on the one punch law between two young boys. Kieran Loveridge, a youth who killed Sydney teenager Thomas Kelly with a single punch to the head has taken his case to the High Court, arguing his sentence should not have been doubled on appeal. The original sentence of five years and two months imposed on Loveridge for a string of unprovoked assaults on five young men in Kings Cross was quashed by an appeal court on the grounds it was "manifestly inadequate" and failed to incorporate the need to deter others from engaging in alcohol-fuelled violence. Following a furious response from sections of the community, particularly Mr Kelly's parents who launched a vocal campaign for tougher penalties for one-punch manslaughter cases and alcohol-related violence more generally, the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against the sentence handed down by Justice Stephen Campbell in the NSW Supreme Court in November last year.

This media article supports the one punch law, by displaying how a single punch can affect two people's lives. One punch can ruin an individual's life by regretting what they have done to another individual or ruin their own life. The new laws added to the one punch law will prevent future violence's as individuals may not want to suffer the consequences.

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One-punch Law- Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Act 2014 (NSW).

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One punch can be lethal, and thrown without warning or gloves can be deadly. One punch can ruin lives.The One Punch Law campaign is aimed at preventing senseless violence among young people, and about stopping them from making split-second decisions that could ruin their lives or the lives of others.

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Yes Mum - MAFMAD Winner 2012 - Make a Film Make a Difference

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Key facts

Why is it important?

Excessive consumption of alcohol is associated with health and social problems in all populations ( NHMRC 2008). The 2020 Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol provide the current advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) around alcohol consumption ( NHMRC 2020). These guidelines have informed the survey data compiled for this measure.

Long-term excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of adverse health and social consequences. It is a major risk factor for conditions, including liver disease, pancreatitis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer. It is also linked to social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and other drug issues ( NHMRC 2020). When mothers have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, babies may be born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) ( Telethon Institute for Child Health Research 2009).

'Binge drinking' contributes to injuries and death due to suicide, transport accidents, violence, burns and falls. In 2015, drinking alcohol contributed 22% of the burden due to road traffic injuries involving motor vehicle occupants and 14% of the burden due to suicide and self-inflicted injuries ( NHMRC 2009).

Harmful alcohol consumption can also affect families and communities. It has the potential to lead to anti-social behaviour, violence, assault, imprisonment and family breakdown ( NHMRC 2020).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely to abstain from alcohol than non-Indigenous Australians; however those who do drink are more likely to do so at dangerous levels.

The new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 (the Health Plan), provides a strong overarching policy framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing and is the first national health document to address the health targets and priority reforms of the National Agreement.

'Focusing on prevention', including health promotion, is one of the key priority areas focused on in the Health Plan, and one objective specifically addresses alcohol consumption:

Objective 4.6 Deliver targeted, needs-based and community-driven actions to prevent alcohol and other drug related harm

The Health Plan is discussed further in the Implications section of this measure.

Burden of disease

In 2018, alcohol use disorders accounted for 4.4% of total disease burden among Indigenous Australians. For Indigenous males aged 25-44, alcohol use disorders were the leading contributor to total burden (12%) (followed by suicide and self-inflicted injuries, and anxiety disorders).

Considering alcohol use as a risk factor for disease and injury, it was estimated that 10.5% of total disease burden among Indigenous Australians was due to alcohol use. Among Indigenous males aged 25-44, alcohol use was the leading risk factor and accounted for just under one-quarter (23%) of total disease burden among this group ( AIHW 2022).

Findings

What does the data tell us?

The NHMRC states that 'drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury' and that 'drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion' ( NHMRC 2020).

Abstinence

The 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (Health Survey) included questions about alcohol consumption, including the amount consumed on single occasions and frequency of drinking. In 2018-19, 30% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over reported that they had abstained from alcohol in the previous 12 months or never consumed alcohol (Table D2.16.18). In 2012-13, the proportion was 26% ( ABS 2013) (Figure 2.16.1).

Figure 2.16.1: Alcohol risk levels, Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over, 2012-13 and 2018-19

After adjusting for differences in the age structure between the 2 populations, Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over were 1.4 times as likely to have abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months as non-Indigenous Australians (30% and 22%, respectively) in 2018-19 ( ABS 2019) (Figure 2.16.2).

Single occasion risky alcohol consumption

In 2018-19, 50% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over exceeded the single occasion risk guidelines (drank more than four standard drinks on a single occasion) at least once in the 2 weeks prior to the survey (Table D2.16.19). This was down from 54% in 2012-13 ( ABS 2013) (Figure 2.16.1).

The incidence of exceeding the single occasion risk guidelines was higher for Indigenous males (61%) than Indigenous females (40%) and was similar between Non-remote (50%) and Remote areas (49%) (Table D2.16.19).

Of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over who exceeded the single occasion risk guidelines, 18% drank at least once a week and 32% drank less than once a week (Table D2.16.9).

After adjusting for differences in the age structure between the two populations, Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over exceeded the single occasion alcohol risk guidelines at 1.2 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians (49% and 42%, respectively) ( ABS 2019) (Figure 2.16.2).

Figure 2.16.2: Age-standardised alcohol risk levels for persons aged 15 and over, by Indigenous status, 2018-19

In 2018-19, Indigenous Australians aged 18-24 were most likely to exceed the single occasion alcohol risk guidelines (65%) and those aged 15-17 had the lowest rate (18%) (Table D2.16.19).

Lifetime risk

In 2018-19, 18% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over drank at levels that exceeded the NHMRC lifetime risk guidelines (no more than two standard drinks per day on average) (Table D2.16.20). This was the same in 2012-13 ( ABS 2013) (Figure 2.16.1).

The rate of exceeding the lifetime alcohol risk guidelines was higher for Indigenous males than Indigenous females (28% and 10%) and higher in Non-remote areas than Remote areas (19% and 16%) (Table D2.16.20, Figure 2.16.3).

After adjusting for differences in the age structure between the two populations, Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over exceeded the lifetime alcohol risk guidelines at 1.2 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians (19% and 15%, respectively) ( ABS 2019) (Figure 2.16.2).

Of Indigenous Australians who exceeded the lifetime risk guidelines in 2018-19, 37% consumed two to three standard drinks daily, 15% consumed three to four standard drinks, and 48% consumed more than four standard drinks. For non-Indigenous Australians who exceeded the lifetime risk guidelines, 39% consumed two to three standard drinks, 23% consumed three to four and 38% consumed more than four standard drinks ( ABS 2019).

Figure 2.16.3: Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over who exceeded the lifetime alcohol risk guidelines, by remoteness and sex, 2018-19

Limitations of survey data

The survey data indicate the prevalence of alcohol consumption but underestimate actual consumption. Further, it cannot be assumed that patterns of consumption are uniform across geographic regions ( Stockwell et al. 2004). After considering a range of evidence, a review by Wilson and others estimated the prevalence of harmful alcohol use in the Indigenous population at twice that of the non-Indigenous population ( Wilson et al. 2010).

Effect on communities

Excess alcohol consumption affects communities. In 2014-15, 19% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 years and over reported experiencing a family stressor related to alcohol problems. The rate was higher in Remote areas (23%) than Non-remote areas (18%).

One study in New South Wales found that, after controlling for social and demographic variables, the rate of offensive behaviour and property damage tended to be higher in areas with higher levels of alcohol sales ( Stevenson et al. 1999). There is also a clear link between alcohol and violence and imprisonment (see measure 2.11 Contact with the criminal justice system).

Hospitalisation

Over the period July 2015 to June 2017, there were 11,254 hospitalisations of Indigenous Australians with a principal diagnosis related to alcohol use, which represented 2% of all hospitalisations of Indigenous Australians (excluding dialysis) (Table D2.16.11, Table 1.02.1).

After adjusting for difference in the age structure between the two populations, Indigenous Australians were hospitalised with alcohol-related diagnoses at 3.9 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians (9.1 and 2.4 per 1,000).

Indigenous males were hospitalised with a principal diagnosis related to alcohol use at 1.4 times the rate of Indigenous females (11 per 1,000 compared with 7.6 per 1,000).

Hospitalisations related to alcohol use for Indigenous Australians were highest in Remote areas (16 per 1,000) and lowest in Inner regional areas (4.5 per 1,000) (Table D2.16.12). By jurisdiction, hospitalisations related to alcohol use for Indigenous Australians were highest in the Northern Territory (19 per 1,000) and lowest in Victoria and Tasmania (both 4.5 per 1,000) (Table D2.16.15, Figure 2.16.4).

Figure 2.16.4: Age-standardised rate of hospitalisations with a principal diagnosis related to alcohol use, by Indigenous status and jurisdiction, July 2015 to June 2017

Acute intoxication was the most common reason Indigenous Australians were hospitalised for alcohol use (62%), followed by dependence syndrome (13%), alcoholic liver disease (9%) and withdrawal (9%). For non-Indigenous Australians, the most common reasons were dependence syndrome (50%), acute intoxication (21%), alcoholic liver disease (9%) and withdrawal (9%).

Over the period July 2015 to June 2017, Indigenous Australians were hospitalised for acute intoxication at 11 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians, 4.6 times the rate for alcoholic liver disease, 3.8 times for withdrawal and the same proportion for dependence syndrome (Table D2.16.11).

Between 2004-05 and 2016-17, hospitalisations for a principal diagnosis related to alcohol use increased for Indigenous females (from 4.4 to 8.1 per 1,000) and Indigenous males (from 9.1 to 10.8 per 1,000) (Table D2.16.13).

Mortality

Mortality data in this measure are from 5 jurisdictions for which the quality of Indigenous identification in the deaths data is considered to be adequate; namely, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory (see Data sources: National Mortality Database).

Among Indigenous Australians in the 5-year period 2015-2019, there were 458 alcohol-related deaths, at a rate of 13 per 100,000 population. Indigenous males accounted for just over two-thirds (313 deaths or 68%) of these deaths, a lower proportion than that of non-Indigenous males (75%). Indigenous males died due to alcohol use at 2.1 times the rate of Indigenous females (17 compared with 8.1 deaths per 100,000, respectively).

Among Indigenous Australians the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease, which accounted for almost two-thirds (288 deaths or 63%) of the deaths. This was followed by mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use (92 deaths or 20%) (for example, depressive disorders secondary to alcohol consumption). For Indigenous males, the rate of death due to alcoholic liver disease was 1.8 times the rate of Indigenous females (10.2 and 5.8 per 100,000, respectively) and for mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use the rate was 3.3 times that of Indigenous females (4.0 and 1.2 per 100,000, respectively) (Figure 2.16.5).
Figure 2.16.5: Rate of death related to alcohol use, Indigenous Australians, by sex, NSW, Qld, WA, SA and the NT, 2015-2019
After adjusting for differences in the age structure between the 2 populations, Indigenous Australians were 4.2 times as likely to die from alcohol-related deaths as non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australians were 3.8 times as likely to die from alcoholic liver disease than non-Indigenous Australians and 4.7 times as likely to die from mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use (Table D2.16.10).

Alcohol-related mortality was responsible for 4.1% of the total gap in death rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Alcoholic liver disease and mental and behavioural disorders were among the leading contributors of the gap due to alcohol-related mortality (59% and 24%, respectively) (Table D2.16.10)

Between 2006 and 2019, based on age-standardised rates, the rate of alcohol-related deaths among Indigenous Australians significantly declined by 18%, and the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians declined by 23%. However, over the decade 2010 to 2019, there was no statistically significant change in the rate of alcohol-related deaths for Indigenous or non-Indigenous Australians, nor the gap in the rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians (Table D2.16.22, Figure 2.16.6).
Figure 2.16.6: Age-standardised mortality rates and changes in the gap due to alcohol use, by Indigenous status, NSW, Qld, WA, SA and the NT, 2006 to 2019
What do research and evaluations tell us?

Important differences exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in relation to patterns and levels of consumption of alcohol, and patterns and levels of harm it can cause. Indigenous Australians are more likely to abstain from drinking alcohol than non-Indigenous Australians (30% compared with 22%). This includes lifetime abstainers and also those who used to drink but no longer do, often as a result of the harmful effects of alcohol consumption ( Wilson et al. 2010). However, of the Indigenous Australians who do consume alcohol, a greater proportion does so at levels that pose both short-term and long-term risks to their health and the health of others ( Chikritzhs et al. 2004; Gray et al. 2018).

There is evidence to show that a range of factors contributes to the higher levels of alcohol consumption by Indigenous Australians. The social determinants contributing to the health status of Indigenous Australians include current and past inequalities, racism and higher levels of emotional and social distress ( Gray et al. 2018).

There is a link between social and emotional wellbeing and risky alcohol consumption. Findings from the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey show that people who exceeded the single occasion risk guidelines at least weekly were more likely to have high or very high levels of psychological distress (16%) than those drinking at low levels for a single occasion (9.3%). Further, the diagnosis or treatment for a mental health condition was 1.2-1.3 times higher among those drinking at risky levels than those drinking at low-risk levels or abstaining from alcohol ( AIHW 2017).

Drinking alcohol while pregnant may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth and a range of potentially lifelong physical, mental, behavioural and learning issues, collectively referred to as FASD ( France et al. 2010; Mutch et al. 2015; Srikartika & O'Leary 2015). FASD are neurodevelopmental disorders caused when an unborn child is exposed to alcohol in the womb. While existing research has limitations, risks of harm are said to increase with the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed (see measure 2.21 Health behaviours during pregnancy) ( O'Leary et al. 2010).

Nationally, the true prevalence of FASD for Indigenous Australians is not known; estimates vary from 2.7 to 4.7 per 1,000 births ( HRSCSPLA 2012). A recent study in the Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia found the rate to be 120 per 1,000 children ( Fitzpatrick et al. 2015). A community-led project to lower the risk of FASD in the Fitzroy Valley has achieved outstanding results. The project was guided by Elders and the evidence-based Marulu Strategy. It was developed in consultation with research partners the Telethon Kids Institute, the University of Sydney and the George Institute for Global Health. Intervention to lower the risk of FASD focused on prevention, diagnosis and providing therapy support to affected individuals and families coping with lifelong physical and mental health problems. A team of 20 local Aboriginal community researchers were trained and enlisted to run the program ( Fitzpatrick et al. 2017; Telethon Kids Institute 2016). Midwife-collected data revealed a dramatic fall in drinking during pregnancy in the Fitzroy Valley in response to the program to below the rate of the general community in Australia. Previously, 65% of pregnant mothers drank, and this has now dropped to 18%. The project highlighted practical strategies (for example educating the community on the harms of consumption during pregnancy) to reduce and eliminate FASD. These provide lessons for approaches in other Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Research shows a link between incarceration and FASD. A study in Western Australia-the Banksia Hill Project-was conducted in a Western Australian youth correctional facility and found that neurodevelopmental impairments due to FASD can predispose young people to engagement with the law ( Bower et al. 2018). It is the first study in Australia to assess and diagnose young people in a youth custodial facility. Ninety-nine young people completed a full assessment, 93% were male and 74% were Aboriginal. Thirty-six people were diagnosed with FASD, a prevalence of 36%, the majority of which had not previously been diagnosed.

The Northern Territory Government has introduced a suite of alcohol-related harm minimisation measures including the rewrite of the Northern Territory Liquor Act 1978, the introduction of the minimum floor price on alcohol, and the roll-out of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors. Statistics released by the Northern Territory Government in September 2019 show that there has been a 22% reduction in alcohol-related assaults across the Northern Territory, including 40% in Alice Springs and 15.5% in Darwin, and a drop of 24.5% in alcohol-related emergency department presentations in Northern Territory hospitals ( Northern Territory Government Newsroom 2019).

A recent study examined the effects of the introduction of the alcohol floor price on critical care admissions in Central Australia. While more time is required to evaluate the full effect of the floor price in the context of other supply reduction measures, the study found that hospitalisations for acute alcohol misuse dropped by 54% in the first six months after the introduction of an increase in the minimum floor price to $1.30 per standard drink ( Secombe et al. 2020).

Alcohol was a major contributor to emergency department attendances for injuries and interpersonal violence ( Gale et al. 2015; Hides et al. 2015; Miller et al. 2012; Poynton et al. 2005). Economic literature shows that restricting access to alcohol reduces alcohol-related harm such as mortality, crime, and injuries ( Brand et al. 2007; Carpenter & Dobkin 2009; Wagenaar et al. 2010). Evaluations of alcohol restriction interventions in the Kimberley Health Region of Western Australia provided evidence that the restriction of selling high strength alcohol has contributed to a significant reduction in alcohol-related hospitalisations and emergency department attendances ( Sun et al. 2019). Reducing the number of alcohol sales outlets may also be effective; the phased closure of the Aurukun tavern was most likely the cause of the 50% reduction in the number of assaults in Aurukun ( DSS 2012).

Implications

The health effects of excess alcohol consumption are evident in both mortality and morbidity statistics. Alcohol is a serious public health issue facing many Indigenous Australian communities ( Calabria et al. 2010). Reducing alcohol and other substance misuse can significantly reduce levels of assaults and homicides and disability while improving the overall health and wellbeing of the population ( SCRGSP 2009). A reduction in alcohol and other substance misuse might also increase educational attainment, household and individual income levels and reduce crime and imprisonment rates ( SCRGSP 2005). Among urban Indigenous Australians, 65% regard either alcohol abuse or alcohol-related violence as the most serious issue facing Indigenous communities ( DHSH 1995).

A number of local, regional and national strategies, including the National Alcohol Strategy
2019-28, have been implemented over the years with the aim of reducing risky and high-risk alcohol consumption, including some that restrict supply. Some of these are whole-of-community strategies, while others are targeted solely at Indigenous Australians. Many have had substantial success, others less so ( D'Abbs & Togni 2000). At present, most legal provisions governing the supply of liquor are the responsibility of the states and territories, limiting the role the Commonwealth can directly play. In many discrete Indigenous communities in remote areas of Northern and Central Australia, alcohol is totally or partly banned. Further research and evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these strategies need to be undertaken.

The overarching principle of Australia's National Drug Strategy is that of harm minimisation, which comprises three pillars: demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. Strategies should align with the three pillars and also address underlying social determinants, aim to prevent the uptake of harmful use, provide treatment for those who are dependent and support those whose lives are affected by others' harmful alcohol and other drug use ( Gray et al. 2018).

For those Indigenous Australians that access alcohol treatment, key themes identified for effective alcohol treatment include individual engagement, flexibility, assessment of suitability, Indigenous Australian staff, community engagement, practical support, counselling, coping with relapse and contingency planning ( Brett et al. 2014) (see measure 3.11 Access to alcohol and drug services).

Further research is warranted into what policy settings are needed to encourage interventions that will reduce the prevalence of risky and high-risk alcohol consumption and the consequent harm to health among Indigenous Australians.

This measure uses different datasets to explore patterns of alcohol use and related health effects and harm. A potential inconsistency that needs further investigation is the survey data that may underestimate alcohol consumption. This may be particularly relevant for services in Remote areas where the survey data show a lower proportion of Indigenous Australians exceeding lifetime risk guidelines compared with Non-remote areas, while hospitalisation rates of alcohol-related conditions in Remote areas and the Northern Territory are much higher than other areas. This could point to issues around the availability of services in remote areas and also potentially higher quantities of alcohol consumed beyond the four-drink data category captured in the 2018-19 health survey data. To illustrate, the 2012-13 health survey captured 24-hour recall of amounts of alcoholic beverages consumed by Indigenous adults. This found that the median amount of alcoholic beverages consumed by Indigenous adults was higher in Remote areas (1,717 grams) than Non-remote areas (1,007 grams).

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) have made important contributions to improving the health of Indigenous Australians through the provision of culturally appropriate health care. ACCHSs vary in size, and the services they offer reflect the unique health needs of an individual community. Advocacy efforts of ACCHSs have been shown to improve alcohol-related policies that are associated with a reduction in alcohol-related assaults and alcohol-related presentations to health services ( Campbell et al. 2018). ACCHSs can play a pivotal role in providing specific and culturally relevant alcohol services and should be considered in the development of alcohol harm prevention or reduction strategies.

The Health Plan, released in December 2021, is the overarching policy framework to drive progress against the Closing the Gap health targets and priority reforms. Implementation of the Health Plan aims to drive structural reform towards models of care that are prevention and early intervention focused, with greater integration of care systems and pathways across primary, secondary and tertiary care. It also emphasises the need for mainstream services to address racism and provide culturally safe and responsive care, and be accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

Priority 4 in the Health Plan, on health promotion, emphasises the role of cultural and social determinants of health. It seeks to harness the protective aspects of culture, with place-based evidence informed action. Health promotion seeks to empower people to make decisions that prevent ill health before it occurs, including through access to information, and opportunities for making healthy choices.

Priority 4 includes Objective 4.6: Deliver targeted, needs-based and community-driven actions to prevent alcohol and other drug related harm. Prevention effort must be trauma-aware and healing-informed. The Health Plan recognises the importance of delivering prevention and treatment activities in genuine partnership or even led by local communities, preferably through ACCHSs.

The policy context is at Policies and strategies.

References

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ABS 2019. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19. 4715.0. Canberra: ABS.

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2017. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016: detailed findings. Canberra: AIHW.

AIHW 2022. Australian Burden of Disease Study: Impact and causes of illness and death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2018. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Bower C, Watkins RE, Mutch RC, Marriott R, Freeman J, Kippin NR et al. 2018. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and youth justice: a prevalence study among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia. BMJ Open 8.

Brand DA, Saisana M, Rynn LA, Pennoni F & Lowenfels AB 2007. Comparative analysis of alcohol control policies in 30 countries. PLoS medicine 4:e151.

Brett J, Lawrence L, Ivers R & Conigrave K 2014. Outpatient alcohol withdrawal management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Australian Family Physician 43:563-6.

Calabria B, Doran CM, Vos T, Shakeshaft AP & Hall W 2010. Epidemiology of alcohol‐related burden of disease among Indigenous Australians. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health 34:S47-S51.

Campbell MA, Hunt J, Scrimgeour DJ, Davey M & Jones V 2018. Contribution of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services to improving Aboriginal health: an evidence review. Australian Health Review 42:218-26.

Carpenter C & Dobkin C 2009. The effect of alcohol consumption on mortality: regression discontinuity evidence from the minimum drinking age. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 1:164-82.

Chikritzhs T, Gray D, Stockwell T, Stearne A, Pascal R & Saggers S 2004. Applying national indicators of alcohol-related harms to Indigenous Australians: a discussion paper. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth.

D'Abbs P & Togni S 2000. Liquor licensing and community action in regional and remote Australia: a review of recent initiatives. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health 24:45-53.

DHSH (Australian Government Department of Human Services and Health) 1995. National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Supplement 1994. AGPS.

DSS (Department of Social Services) 2012. Cape York Welfare Reform Evaluation. Canberra: DSS.

Fitzpatrick JP, Latimer J, Carter M, Oscar J, Ferreira ML, Carmichael Olson H et al. 2015. Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in a population-based sample of children living in remote Australia: the Lililwan Project. Journal of paediatrics and child health 51:450-7.

Fitzpatrick JP, Oscar J, Carter M, Elliott EJ, Latimer J, Wright E et al. 2017. The Marulu Strategy 2008-2012: overcoming fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the Fitzroy Valley. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health 41:467-73.

France K, Henley N, Payne J, D'Antoine H, Bartu A, O'Leary C et al. 2010. Health professionals addressing alcohol use with pregnant women in Western Australia: barriers and strategies for communication. Substance Use & Misuse 45:1474-90.

Gale M, Muscatello DJ, Dinh M, Byrnes J, Shakeshaft A, Hayen A et al. 2015. Alcopops, taxation and harm: a segmented time series analysis of emergency department presentations. BMC Public Health 15:468.

Gray D, Cartwright K, Stearne A, Saggers S, Wilkes E & Wilson M 2018. Review of the harmful use of alcohol among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

Hides L, Limbong J, Vallmuur K, Barker R, Daglish M & Young RM 2015. Alcohol‐related emergency department injury presentations in Queensland adolescents and young adults over a 13‐year period. Drug and alcohol review 34:177-84.

HRSCSPLA (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs) 2012. FASD: The Hidden Harm - Inquiry into the prevention, diagnosis and management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Canberra: The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Miller P, Coomber K, Sønderlund A & McKenzie S 2012. The long‐term effect of lockouts on alcohol‐related emergency department attendances within Ballarat, Australia. Drug and alcohol review 31:370-6.

Mutch RC, Watkins R & Bower C 2015. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: notifications to the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health 51:433-6.

NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) 2008. Australian alcohol guidelines for low-risk drinking 2007.

NHMRC 2009. Australian Guidelines To Reduce Health Risks From Drinking Alcohol. (ed., Department of Health and Ageing). Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council.

NHMRC 2020. Australian Guidelines To Reduce Health Risks From Drinking Alcohol. (ed., Department of Health). Department of Health: National Health and Medical Research Council.

Northern Territory Government Newsroom 2019. Blood Alcohol Limit on Vessels Deferred: Alcohol Harm Minimisation Plan Update Released.

O'Leary CM, Nassar N, Kurinczuk JJ, de Klerk N, Geelhoed E, Elliott EJ et al. 2010. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Risk of Birth Defects. Pediatrics.

Poynton S, Donnelly N, Weatherburn D, Fulde G & Scott L 2005. Role of Alcohol in Injuries Presenting to St Vincent's Hospital Emergency Department and the Associated Short-term Costs, The. BOCSAR NSW Alcohol Studies Bulletins:16.

SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Services Provision) 2005. Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2005. Canberra: Productivity Commission.

SCRGSP 2009. Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2009. Canberra: Productivity Commission.

Secombe PJ, Stewart P, Brown A, Bailey MJ & Pilcher D 2020. The impact of an alcohol floor price on critical care admissions in Central Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia 5:212.

Srikartika VM & O'Leary CM 2015. Pregnancy outcomes of mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis: a population-based cohort study for the period 1983-2007. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 122:795-804.

Stevenson RJ, Lind B & Weatherburn D 1999. Property damage and public disorder: their relationship with sales of alcohol in New South Wales, Australia. Drug & Alcohol Dependence 54:163-70.

Stockwell T, Donath S, Cooper-Stanbury M, Chikritzhs T, Catalano P & Mateo C 2004. Under-reporting of alcohol consumption in household surveys: a comparison of quantity-frequency, graduated-frequency and recent recall. Addiction 99:1024-33.

Sun W, Jian L, Xiao J, Akesson G & Somerford P 2019. The impact of alcohol restriction on hospital and emergency department service utilizations in two remote towns in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Frontiers in Public Health 7:17.

Telethon Institute for Child Health Research 2009. Alcohol and pregnancy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a resource for health professionals (1st revision). Perth: Telethon Institute.

Telethon Kids Institute 2016. Making FASD History in the Fitzroy Valley. Perth, WA: : Telethon Kids Institute.

Wagenaar AC, Tobler AL & Komro KA 2010. Effects of alcohol tax and price policies on morbidity and mortality: a systematic review. American journal of public health 100:2270-8.

Wilson M, Stearne A, Gray D & Saggers S 2010. The harmful use of alcohol amongst Indigenous Australians. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

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Excessive consumption of alcohol is associated with health and social problems in all populations ( NHMRC 2008). The 2020 Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol provide the current advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) around alcohol consumption ( NHMRC 2020).

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Australia's Cycle Of Violence: Where Does It End?

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With the earliest possible intervention and a world class mental health treatment plan.

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Alcohol Advertising Ban on Public Transport - WA

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Alcohol Advertising Ban on Public Transport - WA

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This was published 8 years ago

By Lisa Davies

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The parents of teenager Thomas Kelly have launched an online petition calling for the state government to change ''outdated'' laws that have resulted in their son's killer receiving a four-year minimum jail sentence for manslaughter.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly said on Sunday they were amazed by how widespread the outcry was at the sentence given to Kieran Loveridge on Friday, and believed it showed laws were significantly out of step with community expectations.

Amazed at outcry: Ralph and Kathy Kelly leaving the court on Friday. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Loveridge, who king-hit 18-year-old Thomas while on a violent night out in Kings Cross in July last year, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the original charge of murder was dropped by prosecutors.

While not professing to be legal experts, Mr and Mrs Kelly said the sentence simply did not reflect the criminality involved, nor the abhorrence in the community for alcohol-related crime.

Tragic loss: Thomas Kelly.

''Whilst nothing can be done with our son's case, at least we can all make a difference for other families who will find themselves in our position,'' Mr Kelly said. ''It's not 'if' the next person will be killed by a king-hit, it's just a matter of 'when'.''

In the petition, which the Kellys posted on change.org on Sunday night, they ask Premier Barry O'Farrell to explore the creation of an offence that ''deals specifically with the death of a person as a result of a violent/criminal act but does not reach the necessary threshold to establish murder''.

''At present, 'manslaughter' appears to be the catch-all offence for every death that doesn't satisfy the elements of a murder offence. We believe there has to be an 'in between' area between a completely accidental death that occurs in tragic circumstances, and the offence of murder, with minimum sentencing being applied.''

This, they believed, would allow the legal system ''to be in sync with the community's sentiments''.

On Friday, Justice Stephen Campbell sentenced Loveridge to eight years' jail for manslaughter, with a 25 per cent reduction for his guilty plea reducing it to six years' jail maximum, and with a non-parole period of four years.

''In effect, the offender will no doubt receive a total discount of 50 per cent by the time he is let out in what could already be considered a lenient sentence for the killing of an innocent young man,'' the petition states.

The maximum penalty for manslaughter is 25 years, but that had never been given, Mr Kelly said.

''When the sentence was handed down ... Kathy and I looked at each other in court and I said to her: 'I have no idea, then, how you would ever get close to the high-end of a manslaughter charge if Thomas' case is at the low-end.'''

www.change.org/thomaskelly

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Thomas Kelly's parents petition Premier Barry O'Farrell for law review

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This was published 8 years ago By Lisa Davies Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The parents of teenager Thomas Kelly have launched an online petition calling for the state government to change ''outdated'' laws that have resulted in their son's killer receiving a four-year minimum jail sentence for manslaughter.

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Has crime been the lowest that it's been in 25 years?

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Has crime been the lowest that it's been in 25 years?

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New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has put law and order policy at the forefront of his re-election campaign.

On the campaign trail he announced that a re-elected Coalition Government will introduce new laws to restrict the activities of bikie gangs and serious criminals, and bring down crime rates.

But Mr Baird also claims that crime in the state is at its lowest level in decades.

The claim: NSW Premier Mike Baird claims that crime in the state is at its lowest level in decades. "In the most recent statistics, crime is at its lowest level in 25 years," Mr Baird said.

The verdict: The rates of most crimes have been dropping since 2001 and are at lower levels than they were 25 years ago. But domestic violence and sexual assault rates have risen since the early 1990s. Experts say the overall "level" of crime ignores trends in serious crimes that are less common or might not be as widely reported. Mr Baird's claim is selective.

"What we have seen in NSW over many years under Labor was they made many announcements, but crime got worse," he told reporters in Granville on March 3, 2015.

"What you've seen under us is take action, and that action has seen, in the most recent statistics, crime is at its lowest level in 25 years."

ABC Fact Check takes a look at NSW crime rates.

NSW crime statistics

The Premier's office told Fact Check the source of the claim was quarterly reporting from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

The latest BOCSAR quarterly report in September 2014 records that all 17 major crime categories either fell or remained stable compared with the previous two years.

The same stable or downward trend for those major crimes was recorded in the three months to June 2014.

Mr Baird's office said this was the first time that this result had been achieved in two consecutive quarters since 1989 when BOCSAR began quarterly reporting.

But there were several other times over the past 10 years when consecutive quarterly reports showed the same trend. For example, in the June, September and December quarters in 2010 (when Labor was in power) the rates of these 17 crimes fell or were stable.

Matthew Willis, research manager at the Australian Institute of Criminology, told Fact Check that looking at quarterly trends is reasonable, but cautioned that they can fluctuate with seasonal variation.

Alcohol-related crimes are a good example of this problem. They typically rise and fall with warmer and colder weather.

For this reason Mr Willis said longer-term data was a better indicator of trends in crime rates, and the most reliable measure of crime was to look at rates per 100,000 people because this takes changes in population size into account.

In notes to its quarterly reports, the bureau also warns that its method for identifying trends "is not sensitive to seasonal variations; it is sensitive only to a generally increasing or generally decreasing trend over the time period examined".

Long term trends

The bureau produced a report last year on the long term trends in 10 categories of property and violent crime in NSW, covering 1990 to 2013.

It found that for most offences, there were "significant downtrends in recorded rates since 2000".

The report shows that rates for all three robbery offences - without a weapon; with a firearm; with a weapon not a firearm - are now below those recorded in 1990. The rate for robbery with a firearm is 73 per cent lower than in 1990. Burglary and motor vehicle theft are also at their lowest levels since 1990.

Similarly, the murder rate, expressed as the number of murder victims per 100,000 people, has trended downwards over the last 24 years, reaching its lowest point of 0.9 murder victims per 100,000 in 2012, compared with 1.1 in 2013.

The report concluded that "some categories of crime in NSW are now at the lowest recorded levels they have been for over 20 years."

However, the data for assault and sexual assault showed the opposite result. These crimes recorded "significant long term upward trends" since 1990, the report said.

The assault rate has been steadily increasing over the last 24 years, up 74 per cent since 1990 when the rate was about 500 incidents per 100,000 people, peaking at over 1000 incidents per 100,000 in 2002 and then falling since then. Similarly, the rate of sexual assault has increased by 125 per cent and other sexual offences by 95 per cent since 1990.

Before 1995, reported data on assaults was not broken down into domestic violence-related and non-domestic violence-related offences.

Fact Check asked BOCSAR to analyse the rates of the 17 major crime rates back to 1995 when assault was split into domestic and non-domestic violence categories. The data shows that the average annual increase in domestic violence-related assault is 3.5 per cent over the last 18 years.

What the experts say

Karen Gelb, a research fellow in The Justice Research Group at the University of Western Sydney, said the NSW pattern of crime reflects what experts call "the great crime drop" that has been observed across Australia and in other countries. In the US crime rates fell as an epidemic in crack cocaine ended.

"There's been a similar suggestion that BOCSAR made here (NSW), when heroin availability and use went down and in particular, property theft rates went down," Dr Gelb said.

Mr Willis said increased security has contributed to the fall in crime rates.

"Motor vehicle theft has declined quite dramatically and that's directly in line with the decision to include vehicle immobilisers as a feature in all new vehicles," he said.

Dr Gelb said its not useful to look at overall crime rates because it can mask trends in the less prevalent crimes, like assault.

She told Fact Check some offences, particularly assaults, can be explained in the context of different policing practices and different community expectations and reporting practices.

"We know that police are now more likely to record domestic violence assaults," she said.

"We know that people are more likely to report them now than they were 25 years ago, and community understanding, community acceptance, community expectations have really changed."

Chris Cunneen, who formerly worked for BOCSAR and is now a professor of criminology at the University of NSW, said crimes like domestic violence may still be underestimated because they are under-reported.

"If you look at what's reported to the police and what victimisation surveys show, the levels of unreported sexual assaults are very high," he said.

Victimisation surveys

In the notes to its quarterly reports, BOCSAR explains that its data comes from criminal incidents reported to police and recorded on the police's Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS).

The data represents reported incidents rather than offences, except for murder where the data represents the number of victims.

We know for sexual assault in particular, reporting rates are very low.

The bureau says an alternative measure of the level of crime in Australia is available from crime victim surveys, which estimate the proportion of crimes which are not reported to police, and are therefore not recorded in the official statistics.

"In particular, personal crimes, such as assault and robbery, are less likely to be reported than crimes which involve households," the notes say.

"Given that some offences have low reporting rates, it is possible that changes in recorded crime rates over time for these offences may be reflecting changes in reporting rates."

The ABS has been conducting crime victimisation surveys since 2008. The victimisation rate in NSW for sexual assault has remained steady at 0.2 to 0.3 people per 100,000 since 2008-09, while the victimisation rate for robbery was 0.6 per 100,000 in 2008-09 and has been 0.3 per 100,000 since then. The reporting rate for both of these crimes shows that between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of these crimes were reported to police in 2013-14.

Dr Gelb said victimisation data complements police reported data.

"We know that for some offences, motor vehicle theft for example, pretty much everyone reports it - you have to for insurance purposes," she said. "But we know for sexual assault in particular, reporting rates are very low."

The verdict

The BOCSAR data clearly shows that the rates of most crimes have been dropping since 2001 and are at lower levels than they were 25 years ago.

But while there have been substantial declines in breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft, domestic violence and sexual assault rates have risen since the early 1990s.

For this reason, experts say talking about whether the overall "level" of crime is low doesn't give the full picture, because it ignores trends in serious crimes that are less common or might not be as widely reported.

Mr Baird's claim is selective.

Sources

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Fact check: Is crime in NSW the lowest it's been in 25 years?

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Premier Mike Baird has put law and order policy at the forefront of his re-election campaign. On the campaign trail he announced that a re-elected Coalition Government will introduce new laws to restrict the activities of bikie gangs and serious criminals, and bring down crime rates.

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A Queensland mayor who recorded a blood alcohol test of more than three times the legal limit has been ordered to do community service.

Redland's mayor, Karen Williams, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on Monday, describing the incident as a single lapse of judgment in 18 years of public service.

She said she would return to work this week, after taking leave last month amid calls for her to resign that began after the 23 June crash.

The 55-year-old drove her vehicle into a tree in Cleveland, south-east of Brisbane, at 8pm on 23 June after leaving the council offices. No one was injured in the crash.

It occurred hours after she had an online meeting with families who had lost loved ones in accidents caused by drink-drivers.

Williams was issued with a notice to appear in court on a charge of driving under the influence of liquor after returning a blood alcohol concentration of 0.177%.

In the Cleveland magistrates court, magistrate Deborah Vasta sentenced Williams to 80 hours of community service, saying she believed the mayor was deserving of forgiveness and a second chance.

Williams has also been disqualified from driving for six months and is required to have an interlock device fitted for five years. No conviction was recorded.

Vasta had shown a graphic drink-driving awareness video in court, saying it was a regular part of her proceedings for traffic offenders.

So far this year 172 people have been killed on Queensland roads, making it the worst road toll in 30 years, Vasta said.

She said Williams had paid and will continue to pay very heavily for the mistakes she made that day.

Vasta said Williams had "copped an avalanche of condemnation and vitriol" that included phone messages calling her a "piece of shit" and a "two-faced bitch" and hoping she would go to hell after the incident that occurred hours after an online meeting with families of road crash victims.

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There was also a small group of people who felt betrayed by Williams' actions, Vasta said.

"It seems to me there's a very real desire to see your client punished more than an average drink-driver, not just because she's mayor and should be held to a higher standard, but because of what some people see as stunning hypocrisy and betrayal," she told Williams' lawyer, Calvin Gnech.

Vasta said drink-drivers were usually fined, but there was a genuine feeling many people wanted to see Williams "humbled and punished more than the average person".

Community service work would balance the condemnation and outrage of people who had been vocal, and the community would see Williams demonstrating her remorse in a physical way.

"It reflects that level of humility that simply paying a fine doesn't achieve," Vasta said.

Williams had four glasses of wine after finalising the council's budget and not eating since 6pm the previous day.

No one was injured when the council car she was driving left the road, travelled through a fence and struck a tree.

Outside court Williams was interrupted by a handful of protesters while she apologised, saying she acknowledged upsetting, disappointing and angering people who had put their trust in her.

Williams - who was elected as a councillor in 2004 and is in her third term as mayor - said she will work very hard to regain the trust of her community when she returns to work this week.

"I will never put my family, my friends, my community and my council colleagues in this position again," she said.

"This was a single lapse of judgment in 18 years of public service to my community."

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Drink-driving Queensland mayor Karen Williams sentenced to community service

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A Queensland mayor who recorded a blood alcohol test of more than three times the legal limit has been ordered to do community service. Redland's mayor, Karen Williams, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on Monday, describing the incident as a single lapse of judgment in 18 years of public service.

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Link between bottle shops and domestic violence focus of new research

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Link between bottle shops and domestic violence focus of new research

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Liquor and Gaming NSW assesses most licence applications across the state. However, higher risk licence types such as hotels, clubs, bottle shops and extended trading authorisations are reviewed by the authority.

In the 12 months to January, 3094 liquor licence applications were made, of which the authority handled 239. Sixteen were refused and eight appeals were lodged in the period.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research last month published a report examining how the extension of bottle shop and alcohol home delivery services trading hours from 10pm to 11pm in 2016 affected the incidence of domestic assault in NSW.

The Takeaway alcohol sales and violent crime: the implications of extended trading hours report found a "very small but statistically significant" increase in domestic assaults, with an extra 1120 incidents in the 38 months after trading hours were extended.

While the study said neighbourhoods with a greater density of liquor outlets generally had increased rates of family violence, it found a lack of research on how licensing affected domestic assault rates in NSW.

NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's chair Philip Crawford said the findings will help inform licensing decisions. Credit:Wolter Peeters

It pointed to several studies exploring the effect of Sydney's 2014 lockout laws on non-domestic assault in Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD, but said: "none to date have examined whether the licensing restrictions affected rates of domestic assault".

Almost 20,000 alcohol-related assaults are recorded by police in NSW every year, half of which are related to domestic violence. Rates of domestic violence have remained relatively stable over the past decade despite significant falls in other violent crimes.

Crawford said while domestic violence remained unacceptably high in the community, the regulator needed to be better informed about the impact of alcohol availability.

"We get plenty of applications for a [takeaway store] liquor licence, where there might already be four in the town. Is a fifth desirable?" he said. "This research will give us empirical evidence we can rely on if we are going to decline an application."

"Anything to reduce the incidence of domestic violence - we should do it".

La Trobe University public health researcher Dr Jason (Heng) Jiang will lead the project using licensing and crime data from 2013 to 2020.

Jiang said the research would also explore whether adding a liquor outlet to an area of socio-economic disadvantage had more or less harmful impact than in more advantaged areas.

Some of the highest rates of domestic assaults in the past two years have been recorded in the local government areas of Blacktown, Central Coast, Canterbury-Bankstown, Penrith and Sydney. Almost all recorded higher rates of alcohol-related domestic assault compared to all of NSW in the year to December 2021.

In Sydney LGA, there are 2141 authorised liquor licenses, with more than 400 authorised to sell packaged liquor. Sydney's annual alcohol-related domestic assault rate was 286.3 per 100,000 residents in 2021, which is higher compared to all of NSW (223.89).
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Link between bottle shops and domestic violence focus of new research

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Liquor and Gaming NSW assesses most licence applications across the state. However, higher risk licence types such as hotels, clubs, bottle shops and extended trading authorisations are reviewed by the authority. In the 12 months to January, 3094 liquor licence applications were made, of which the authority handled 239.

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Stop Before It Gets Ugly 30 sec TVC - "Aggressor"

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I See - Alcohol and Young People Campaign - Nov 2014 - 45sec advertisement

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NSW response to alcohol-related violence is an important first step

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NSW response to alcohol-related violence is an important first step

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NSW premier Barry O'Farrell has announced a suite of measures to combat alcohol-fuelled violence. Will they work? AAP/Dean Lewins

Major changes to a range of liquor licensing and sentencing laws in Sydney's CBD have come at the end of the media storm that emanated from the senseless attack on Daniel Christie and his subsequent death.

The reforms announced by NSW premier Barry O'Farrell show leadership and courage, and offer a shining example to other state and national leaders. They can serve as the beginning of real change to Australia's culture, which has created an environment where we hear of senseless bashings, rapes and killings week in, week out.

The measures

The measures introduced by the NSW government are closely linked to those that achieved substantial results in Newcastle. The key measures include:

3am end to bar sales in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross;

1.30am lockouts (small bars/restaurants exempt);

10pm closing of packaged liquor outlets;

Risk-based licensing scheme;

Freeze on granting new licenses;

Eight-year mandatory sentencing for alcohol-related king-hit deaths;

Increased on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour (for example, from A$150 to A$500 for offensive language and from $200 to $500 for offensive behaviour);

Increase from two years to 25 years' maximum sentence for the illegal supply and possession of steroids.

Will they be effective?

The key element of this package of reforms is stopping the service of alcohol at 3am. This is a measure that has been found to be very effective around the world.

Ideally, the measure would have been implemented state-wide. This would have eliminated the chance of any type of displacement effect, where people can simply move from a closing licensed venue to an open one.

However, the reforms still send a clear message that restricting trading hours is on the agenda. Communities will be able to lobby for this response in the future. Local government and the state and federal politicians who represent these communities will now have to explain why they don't have the same courage O'Farrell does to stop this violence.

Lockouts have less evidence supporting them. This measure has been found to cause a few problems, such as favouring larger, later trading venues and creating conflict at the door. The exemption of small bars, however, goes some way to helping with this. On the other hand, we found this significantly reduced pre-drinking, a major predictor of being involved in alcohol-related violence.

Risk-based licensing and increased on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour have shown good moderate effects and have important added benefits.

Risk-based licensing effectively introduces a "user pays" system whereby pubs and clubs that are likely to experience more harm pay higher fees. Linking the system to venues' record of breaches means good venues pay much less and those with a bad record pay substantially more for their liquor licence. A recent evaluation of this system in the ACT found promising signs.

Increased on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on assaults and emergency department attendances. They also serve an important role in terms of sending a clear message that heavy intoxication and anti-social behaviour are not acceptable.

Far beyond the obligatory education campaigns, to which the public are largely immune and which normally can be interpreted as the default way to do nothing, these fines have an unequivocal message.

Closing bottleshops is an important acknowledgement of the impact of these players and the negative impact they have. Unfortunately, it will only really affect "side loading", where people have a final drink just before entering venues or top up inside venues with hip flasks or the like.

What don't the measures address?

In the end, alcohol price reforms need to occur to tackle the gaping price differential between pubs and the large bottleshops and supermarkets. Setting a minimum price has been found effective in Canada and is soon to be introduced in Scotland - despite heavy industry opposition and a clear hijack of the British government on the issue.

Measures to tackle other drug use are also something that shows a willingness to act, even though we still need more evidence. Research has found that people who use illicit drugs are more likely to experience all forms of harm and more likely to be involved in assaults.

Recent research has also shown that methamphetamine users were roughly three to nine times more likely to be engaged in violence when using the drug.

However, our research has also shown that while this matters at the individual level, alcohol is still the main predictor of violent behaviour. Unfortunately, we did not ask about steroids in that project and testing is unlikely to accurately pick up rates of use, but like other drugs, it is likely to contribute. Acting on these other substances is a necessary part of a package of measures.

The other key element of the reforms is the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences. However, the mandatory sentences announced don't have strong evidence to support their introduction.

Such sentences are probably unlikely to have an impact on people's actions in the heat of the moment, especially when alcohol or other drugs are involved. However, they may well influence broader attitudes towards violence and start to have a bearing on some longer-term issues.

Mandatory minimum sentences are also expensive and fill already crowded jails. Smart but tough justice options, such as stopping repeat offenders from drinking, can and should be explored. This has been found to have massive benefits in crime reduction at no cost to the community.

But the measures announced do reflect the political reality of community sentiment. They also send a very clear message that the community does not accept this behaviour, regardless of any reasons.

Next steps

The measures announced represent a landmark in alcohol policy. With some tweaking, they will have a very substantial impact on alcohol-related violence in NSW. There are two key next steps to ensure these measures have the greatest impact.

Firstly, these measures are a response to the situational factors involved. To make longer term and more substantial reductions and prevent more senseless injury and death, we need to expand on these initiatives to incorporate a whole-of-government strategy to prevent and reduce violence at both the state and federal levels.

Alcohol and violence permeate our society and feast on each other. Family violence and other forms of domestic violence, child abuse, gang violence, sexual assault, bullying and many other forms of violence erode our community day by day and destroy lives.

All of these experiences create subsequent cohorts of people who have learned violence as a form of communication. Boys who are abused physically by their fathers, who normally do so when drunk, are twice as likely to be perpetrators of bar-room violence as adults, often destroying their lives before they even really begin.

By not acting on this cycle of violence we allow the problem to continue growing.

Our society is clearly no longer willing to pay the huge financial and devastating emotional costs associated with violence. The costs to governments, communities, employers, individuals and productivity will become an increasing and crippling financial burden.

There are solutions at hand and an international framework ready to adopt. The leadership of the O'Farrell government and the success of an extraordinary public campaign for change should serve as an inspiration for other Australian leaders and their communities.

Real action is now firmly on the agenda. Australians are no longer going to accept do-nothing approaches from their governments.

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NSW response to alcohol-related violence is an important first step

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Major changes to a range of liquor licensing and sentencing laws in Sydney's CBD have come at the end of the media storm that emanated from the senseless attack on Daniel Christie and his subsequent death. The reforms announced by NSW premier Barry O'Farrell show leadership and courage, and offer a shining example to other state and national leaders.

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In the lead up to State of Origin and NRL Finals series, some of the game's heavyweights and arch rivals have joined with DrinkWise, NSW Police and the NRL to remind the community to Always respect, always DrinkWise. This collaboration helps remind the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others. Always respect, always DrinkWise - 2022 Ampol State of Origin Series
As part of the Always respect, always DrinkWise awareness campaign in the lead up to the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series, NSW Blues stars Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs Captain) and Kirra Dibb (Newcastle Knights) and QLD Maroons greats Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm) and Tarryn Aiken (Brisbane Broncos) have recorded powerful messages to all those eagerly awaiting this years' series.

24-year-old Rabbitohs Captain, Murray, who is keen to play in the series after surgery, said the Always respect, always DrinkWise message is something he's passionate to support.

"Making sure that fans enjoy and have the best and safest experience of our game is of utmost priority to the NRL and all the players," said Murray.

"This is an important initiative to remind fans to take care of one another wherever they're choosing to watch the game, and if choosing to drink alcohol, to do so responsibly," added Murray.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker added, "the Always respect, always DrinkWise message is really important to educate the wider community about being respectful to those they live with and the wider community at all times," Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.

"We know how passionate sporting fans are in this state, and we want them to celebrate, however it isn't an excuse for violence. Wherever you're watching, be responsible, look out for one another, and if you're seeing or experiencing anything untoward, please contact the police".

DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan added: "DrinkWise is pleased to partner with NSW Police and the NRL for the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign," Strahan said.

"We want to remind those who are choosing to have a drink while watching the State of Origin series this year to consume responsibly and enjoy all the great moments that Origin has to offer.

Andrew Abdo, CEO of the NRL added, "This DrinkWise initiative is a timely reminder for everyone to enjoy and embrace the State of Origin series, a captivating rivalry that also warrants respect. Respect for players, match officials and all fans of the game."

The Always respect, always DrinkWise messaging will be promoted throughout the State of Origin series across the NSW Police's, NRL's and DrinkWise's digital channels and supported by awareness messages from Murray, Dibb, Kaufusi and Aiken, while NSW and Queensland Liquor Accords will display messaging at licensed pubs and venues in and around the stadium precincts.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000. Always respect, always DrinkWise - 2021 NRL Finals Series
Penrith Panthers star Matt Burton and Sydney Roosters NRLW captain Corban Baxter joined forces with DrinkWise, the NSW Police and local NSW Liquor Accords to launch Always respect, always DrinkWise in the lead up to the 2021 NRL Finals series. This timely campaign reminded the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others.

As part of the awareness campaign, Burton and Baxter recorded messages to NRL fans.

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Always respect, always DrinkWise - NRL State of Origin and Finals Series awareness campaign

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In the lead up to State of Origin and NRL Finals series, some of the game's heavyweights and arch rivals have joined with DrinkWise, NSW Police and the NRL to remind the community to Always respect, always DrinkWise. This collaboration helps remind the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others.

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Jordan Hayes-McGuinness, 18, killed four young people and himself when he drove under the influence of alcohol and cannabis in 2012. Peter McGuinness, Jordan's father, says his family will never recover from the weight of their son's actions.

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Hundreds of protesters rallied Saturday outside the Fullerton Police Department, demanding answers and resignations because of the death of a mentally ill man after a violent conf…

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A new campaign to tackle drink driving, one of Australia's leading social issues, launched in Sydney yesterday primarily targeting young men age 17-25 years via Ogilvy Sydney.

The multi-channel campaign is the first communication from the new government agency, Transport for NSW and focuses on positive prevention rather than enforcement-style campaigns.

Says Andrew Baxter, CEO, Ogilvy Australia: "This is creative work we are particularly proud of. Unlike previous campaigns which have focused on the consequences of drink driving, in this instance we've focused on an empowering approach to engage and generate behavioural change amongst the younger target audience."

Recent research by the Centre for Road Safety indicated drink driving is often opportunistic and unplanned. Drink drivers will often drive to a venue without first planning an alternate way home.

Transport for NSW sought a two-pronged communication approach which aimed to continue to raise perceived threat and consequences of detection (via RBT) but also empower people with the belief that the decision to drink and drive is theirs alone; and they have options available to them other than choosing to drink and drive.

Says Baxter: "Our solution was to dramatise the exhaustive list of ways young people can get home rather than choosing to drink drive, hence the tagline 'RBT means you need a plan B'. We have shot a multitude of 'Plan B' scenarios - some legitimate, some wildly fictitious - which will unfold over time to maximise engagement and keep the campaign fresh. This is a major campaign which we anticipate will run for many years."

Says Rita Harding, general manager, marketing and communications, Transport for NSW: "There are many variables that influence drink-driving behaviour. We hope this new campaign resonates with everyone but particularly with young men, too many of whom are injured or killed by alcohol related road crashes every year.

"We will measure the campaign's effectiveness through metrics such as self-reported reductions in drink-driving and a reduction in alcohol-related road crashes and fatalities. It is behavioural change we are after."

The new campaign will feature across multiple channels including TV, Cinema, outdoor, In-venue advertising, plus a heavy digital component.

Ogilvy was awarded the project in late 2011 following a competitive pitch against an undisclosed list of NSW government roster agencies. The agency previously created the highly successful 'Paranoia' campaign developed for the NSW Government in 2006. A campaign which has run for the past 6 years.

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Transport for NSW attempts to curb drink driving targeting young men in new campaign via Ogilvy

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A new campaign to tackle drink driving, one of Australia's leading social issues, launched in Sydney yesterday primarily targeting young men age 17-25 years via Ogilvy Sydney.The multi-channel campaign is the first communication from the new government agency, Transport for NSW and focuses on positi

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Australian Drinking Habits: 2007 vs 2017

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The drinking landscape in Australia is evolving. Australian Drinking Habits: 2007 vs 2017 seeks to understand how our drinking culture has changed over the past ten years, what has influenced these changes, and what this means for health prevention efforts aimed at reducing harm from excessive consumption.

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Dangerous Driver Who Killed Pregnant Woman Wins Appeal

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Dangerous Driver Who Killed Pregnant Woman Wins Appeal

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The court heard that Richard Moananu began drinking about 10am on 28 September 2018 before getting behind the wheel of his silver Mazda at around 6.45pm.

He collided head on into a car carrying a young man and his pregnant wife, who was due to give birth to twins in the coming days.

The agreed facts of the case detailed that Mr Moananu was driving in excess of 45km/h over the speed limit in the lead up to the crash, had run a red light, failed to indicate properly and was swerving before driving onto the median strip and becoming airborne at around 145km/h and landing on the wrong side of the road where the collision occurred.

He was driving on an expired driver licence.

Horrific crash

Waking from a coma after the crash, sole survivor Bronko Hoang, who suffered two punctured lungs, crushed intestines, a broken foot and bleeding on the brain, was told that his wife and their unborn children had died.

Plea and sentence

He pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter and one of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and was sentenced in November 2020 in the District Court of New South Wales to a prison term of 15 years with a minimum term of 10 years.

Appeal

Mr Moananu appealed the severity of his sentenced to the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, which on Friday 22 April 2022 found the sentence to be 'manifestly excessive' and reduced it to 12 and a half years behind bars with a minimum term of eight years and four months.

In delivering the judgment, NSWCCA Justice Mark Leeming considered evidence that Mr Moananu was haunted by the incident and deeply remorseful.

His Honour also considered the appellant's post-traumatic stress, dysfunctional childhood, as well as his "clean driving record prior to the accident."

The Justice also took into account that Mr Moananu's behaviour in custody "appears to be exemplary", proceeding to remark:

"The evidence allows the court to take a more sanguine view to the applicant's prospects of rehabilitation, although the sentence to be imposed must reflect the extraordinarily serious objective facts."

Given the time he has already served behind bars, Mr Moananu will be eligible for parole in January 2027.

Appeals to the NSWCCA

The NSWCCA is the State's highest court for criminal cases.

Any person who pleads or is found guilty of a crime in the Supreme Court or District Court judge may, after their sentence is finalised appeal to that court.

But unlike appeals from the Local to the District Court, during which the District Court judge must give what's known as a 'Parker Warning' before they can impose a heavier sentence, allowing for the appeal to be withdrawn at that time, the NSWCCA does not need to give such a warning and is entirely at liberty to impose a heavier sentence on appeal.

The offence of dangerous driving occasioning in New South Wales

Dangerous Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm is an offence under Section 52A of the Crimes Act 1900 which carries a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

1. You were the driver of a motor vehicle,

2. You were involved in an impact that caused grievous bodily harm (GBH) to another, and

3. You were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or you were driving at a dangerous speed, or you were driving in a dangerous manner.

A 'vehicle' is defined as:

1. Any motor car, motor carriage, motor cycle, or any other vehicle propelled, wholly or partly, by volatile spirit, steam, gas, oil, electricity, or by any other means other than human or animal power, or

2. A horse-drawn vehicle.

An 'impact' is that which occurs:

1. between an object or a person and the vehicle,

2. between an object, including the ground, due to being thrown from the vehicle,

3. with another vehicle or object in, on or near a person,

4. with anything on or attached to the vehicle, or

5. with anything in motion through falling from the vehicle.

It also includes where:

1. a vehicle overturns or leaves the road, or

2. a person falls or is thrown or ejected from the vehicle.

'Grievous bodily harm' is defined by the courts as 'very serious harm' it includes but is not limited to:

1. Any permanent or serious disfigurement,

2. The destruction of a foetus, other than by a medical procedure, and

3. Any grievous bodily disease.

The maximum penalty increases to 11 years in prison where the offence is committed in 'circumstance of aggravation' which is where:

1. You had a 'prescribed concentration of alcohol' in your bloodstream,

2. You exceeded the speed limit by more than 45 km/h, or

3. You were 'very substantially impaired' by a drug or drugs.

A 'prescribed concentration of alcohol' is a reading of at least 0.15.

You are presumed to have been under the influence of alcohol where you had the prescribed concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream.

A certificate of your alcohol or drug concentration is admissible as evidence as long as the analysis occurred within 2 hours after the impact, unless you are able to prove 'on the balance of probabilities' that the concentration was lower at the time impact.

A defence to the charge is that the death was not attributable in any way to:

1. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs

2. The speed at which you drive, or

3. The manner in which you drove.

Other defences include self-defence, duress and necessity.

What about the unborn children?

In November last year, the New South Wales Government passed two new laws which

Make it a specific crime to cause the loss of an unborn child through a criminal act.

The 'Loss of Foetus' Bill introduces two new offences. The first offence relates to situations where a crime leads to the death of an unborn child but the mother survives.

The law states:

(a) the person's act or omission constitutes an offence under a Grevious Bodily Harm (GBH) provision (the relevant GBH provision), and

(b) the act or omission consists of, or includes, causing the loss of a foetus of a pregnant woman.

In a proceeding for an offence is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the defendant knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the woman was pregnant, unless that knowledge is an element of the relevant GBH provision.

Those found guilty of this offence will face five to 28 years behind bars.

The second offence relates to circumstances when an unborn child is lost because of the death of a pregnant woman as a result of a crime.

Offenders will serve three more years in prison for the loss of the foetus, in addition to any time they have to serve for killing the pregnant woman.

The amendment to the Crimes Act is the result of years of advocacy by expectant parents, in particular Brodie Donegan who lost her unborn baby girl, Zoe, on Christmas Day in 2009 when a drug-affected driver smashed into her.

The driver was sentenced over the injuries to Brodie, but escaped any punishment over the death of unborn Zoe because at that time, there was no separate offence under the NSW Crimes Act, to deal with the killing of an unborn child.

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Dangerous Driver Who Killed Pregnant Woman Wins Appeal

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The court heard that Richard Moananu began drinking about 10am on 28 September 2018 before getting behind the wheel of his silver Mazda at around 6.45pm. He collided head on into a car carrying a young man and his pregnant wife, who was due to give birth to twins in the coming days.

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Man to Man: Stop the Coward Punch Campaign

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Man to Man: Stop the Coward Punch Campaign

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Always respect, always DrinkWise – NRL State of Origin and Finals Series awareness campaign

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Always respect, always DrinkWise – NRL State of Origin and Finals Series awareness campaign

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In the lead up to State of Origin and NRL Finals series, some of the game's heavyweights and arch rivals have joined with DrinkWise, NSW Police and the NRL to remind the community to Always respect, always DrinkWise. This collaboration helps remind the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others. Always respect, always DrinkWise - 2022 Ampol State of Origin Series
As part of the Always respect, always DrinkWise awareness campaign in the lead up to the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series, NSW Blues stars Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs Captain) and Kirra Dibb (Newcastle Knights) and QLD Maroons greats Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm) and Tarryn Aiken (Brisbane Broncos) have recorded powerful messages to all those eagerly awaiting this years' series.

24-year-old Rabbitohs Captain, Murray, who is keen to play in the series after surgery, said the Always respect, always DrinkWise message is something he's passionate to support.

"Making sure that fans enjoy and have the best and safest experience of our game is of utmost priority to the NRL and all the players," said Murray.

"This is an important initiative to remind fans to take care of one another wherever they're choosing to watch the game, and if choosing to drink alcohol, to do so responsibly," added Murray.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker added, "the Always respect, always DrinkWise message is really important to educate the wider community about being respectful to those they live with and the wider community at all times," Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.

"We know how passionate sporting fans are in this state, and we want them to celebrate, however it isn't an excuse for violence. Wherever you're watching, be responsible, look out for one another, and if you're seeing or experiencing anything untoward, please contact the police".

DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan added: "DrinkWise is pleased to partner with NSW Police and the NRL for the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign," Strahan said.

"We want to remind those who are choosing to have a drink while watching the State of Origin series this year to consume responsibly and enjoy all the great moments that Origin has to offer.

Andrew Abdo, CEO of the NRL added, "This DrinkWise initiative is a timely reminder for everyone to enjoy and embrace the State of Origin series, a captivating rivalry that also warrants respect. Respect for players, match officials and all fans of the game."

The Always respect, always DrinkWise messaging will be promoted throughout the State of Origin series across the NSW Police's, NRL's and DrinkWise's digital channels and supported by awareness messages from Murray, Dibb, Kaufusi and Aiken, while NSW and Queensland Liquor Accords will display messaging at licensed pubs and venues in and around the stadium precincts.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000. Always respect, always DrinkWise - 2021 NRL Finals Series
Penrith Panthers star Matt Burton and Sydney Roosters NRLW captain Corban Baxter joined forces with DrinkWise, the NSW Police and local NSW Liquor Accords to launch Always respect, always DrinkWise in the lead up to the 2021 NRL Finals series. This timely campaign reminded the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others.

As part of the awareness campaign, Burton and Baxter recorded messages to NRL fans.

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Always respect, always DrinkWise - NRL State of Origin and Finals Series awareness campaign

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In the lead up to State of Origin and NRL Finals series, some of the game's heavyweights and arch rivals have joined with DrinkWise, NSW Police and the NRL to remind the community to Always respect, always DrinkWise. This collaboration helps remind the community about the importance of moderating their alcohol consumption and always being respectful towards others.

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THE Telegraphs' Enough is Enough campaign aims to end the alcohol-fuelled carmage devastating our community.

It is a multi-faceted campaign because there is no easy answer.

The responsibility to keep the streets safe lies with our courts, our laws, our transport system but most of all with ourselves.

All of us.

This is what we think will make a difference.

1. BE A REAL MATE - TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH OTHER AND STOP VIOLENCE

2. MANDATORY MINIMUM JAIL TERMS FOR PUNCHES THAT CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY

3. 1AM LOCKOUTS

4. MORE TRAINS TO GET PEOPLE HOME QUICKER

5. REVIEW LIQUOR LICENCES ANNUALLY, AND CHARGE ON A RISK BASIS

6. BAN THE SALE OF ALCOHOL 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VENUE CLOSES

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THE Telegraphs' Enough is Enough campaign aims to end the alcohol-fuelled carmage devastating our community. It is a multi-faceted campaign because there is no easy answer. The responsibility to keep the streets safe lies with our courts, our laws, our transport system but most of all with ourselves. All of us.

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Min. cost $4. Conditions apply.* Sign Up View other offers App or digital edition only customer? To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397) Super Savers: Best price over 12 months. I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions and agree that News Pty Limited and any of its related companies can contact me with special offers and marketing.

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Don't drink and drive

You need to plan ahead to get home safely after a night out - if you've been drinking, don't drive.

Positive choices

The Plan B drink driving campaign began in August 2012. It is about making positive choices to get home safely after a night out, highlighting that driving is not an option. With practical options to avoid drink driving, Plan B takes a positive approach designed to engage the community about making alternative arrangements to get home after a night out. The campaign emphasises that police mobile random breath testing (RBT) operations can happen anytime, anywhere.

Drink driving behaviour

Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of death and injury on NSW roads. In 2019, there were 61 people killed and 285 people injured in crashes involving drivers who were over the legal blood alcohol limit. Men make up 87 per cent of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Audience

Although the Plan B campaign reaches all drivers, it is aimed at male drivers aged 17-49 years, who are over represented in all alcohol-related crashes.

Main messages

The main message of the campaign is if you are drinking, don't drive. You need to have a Plan B to get home. Other campaign messages include:

What's your Plan B?

Plan ahead on how to get home after a night out

Some Plan Bs are smarter than others

RBT means you need a Plan B.

Delivery

The Plan B campaign has a heavy emphasis on point-of-behaviour messaging in licensed venues where people are making the critical decision about whether to drink and drive. The campaign leverages advertising channels such as outdoor (taxi backs and in-venue/pub advertising) as well as radio and social media.

Plan B aims

The campaign aims to:

Contribute to an overall reduction in the road toll

Reinforce and drive awareness in moments before, during and following drinking occasions that if you drink you should not drive

Remind people at the point-of-behaviour of the consequences of drink driving

Promote alternative transport options to empower drivers to make the choice not to drink and drive

Maintain awareness of mobile RBT police enforcement.

Evaluation

Since the campaign began in August 2012, more than 80 per cent of those surveyed recall seeing the Plan B campaign materials and almost all support the campaign

80 per cent of the target audience identify the core message: "If you're drinking, don't drive"

Campaign testing results show more than 67 per cent of young male drivers consider the campaign to be believable

Those who recognise the Plan B television commercials are more likely to notice police random breath testing units on the roads than those who have not seen the campaign

More than two thirds of the target audience agree that drinking and driving is not socially acceptable.

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You need to plan ahead to get home safely after a night out - if you've been drinking, don't drive. The Plan B drink driving campaign began in August 2012. It is about making positive choices to get home safely after a night out, highlighting that driving is not an option.

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Alcohol-fuelled violence on our streets: two nights of living hell in NSW

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Alcohol-fuelled violence on our streets: two nights of living hell in NSW

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A PERSON was arrested every three minutes across the state during a two-night blitz on booze-fuelled violence. Senior NSW detectives said they were angered by the staggering numbers, while Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the issue as "urgent" and Premier Barry O'Farrell insisted the problem was a national one.

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WHO works with Member States and partners to prevent and reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority. The 2010 WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol is the most comprehensive international alcohol policy document, endorsed by WHO Member States, that provides guidance on reducing the harmful use of alcohol at all levels. WHO's approach aligns with and furthers work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically target 3.5 on substance abuse, including harmful use of alcohol, and target 3.4 on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and promoting mental health and well-being.

WHO has identified that the most cost-effective actions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol include increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages, enforcing restrictions on exposure to alcohol advertising, and restrictions on the physical availability of retailed alcohol. In addition, enforcing drink driving countermeasures and securing access to screening, brief interventions, and treatment are effective and ethically sound interventions. The most cost-effective interventions are at the focus of WHO-led SAFER initiative aimed at providing support for Member States in reducing the harmful use of alcohol.

WHO's work provides special attention to reducing harm to people other than the drinker and to populations that are at particular risk from harmful use of alcohol, such as children, adolescents, women of child-bearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women, indigenous people and other minority groups or groups with low socioeconomic status.

WHO is currently developing an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority.

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Alcohol is a psychoactive, toxic and dependence-producing substance.

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NSW Government unveils print work part of ‘Stop Before it Gets Ugly’ campaign via JWT Sydney

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This week JWT Sydney launched the confronting ‘Stop Before it Gets Ugly’ campaign for the NSW Government. This is the first NSW Government advertising campaign to focus specifically on curbing alcohol-fuelled violence.Simon Harsent from The Pool Collective was selected to capture these powerful imag