Newsletter date: 3 July 2013
Contents:
* Northern Territory Government: Robyn Lambley - Minister of Health: Day One of Alcohol Mandatory Treatment
* NIRS: NT compulsory treatment policy gets through Parliament
* Malcolm Sutton, The Guardian UK: NT move to mandatory alcohol rehabilitation sparks controversy
* Julie Edwards, The Guardian UK: Northern Territory alcohol mandatory treatment is an affront to liberty
* Concerned Territorians: Time to Stop and Re-think our Approach to Alcohol Policy in the Territory
* Current Campaigns: NAAJA opposes the Mandatory Alcohol Treatment Bill
* NAAJA, CAALAS and NTLAC: joint submission in relation to the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
* NACCHO health report: NT debate mandatory rehabilitation for treatment for alcohol dependant persons
* APO NT recent material on Alcohol-related issues
* AMSANT: Options for Alcohol Control in the Northern Territory
* Background to the NT Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
* Mick Estens, The Stringer: Deprivation, poverty, disadvantage of Aboriginal people on show everyday - in Court
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Parliamentary inquiry calls for end to lock-up culture
* Tracker: Return of young WA detainees pushed back
* Justice Reinvestment and Aboriginal Imprisonment News
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal Imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT: ROBYN LAMBLEY - MINISTER OF HEALTH: DAY ONE OF ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT
- Media Release
Northern Territory Government: Robyn Lambley - Minister of Health: Day One of Alcohol Mandatory Treatment
http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewRelease&id=11070&d=5
1 Jul 13:"Up to 800 problem drinkers every year will undertake alcohol rehabilitation as part of the Country Liberals Government’s Alcohol Mandatory Treatment measures, which get underway today.
Health Minister, Robyn Lambley, said the scheme will assist problem drinkers to overcome their addictions and provides a pathway for recovery for some of the Territory’s worst alcoholics. ...
"The Northern Territory Government has consulted heavily with key stakeholders before to the roll-out of Alcohol Mandatory Treatment. ... ""
- Related Media Release
Northern Territory Government: Robyn Lambley: Landmark Legislation will save lives
http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=printRelease&ID=11055
28 Jun 13: "The passage of the Government’s Alcohol Mandatory Treatment legislation through Parliament will provide a lifeline for the Territory’s worst problem drinkers and strike a significant blow against the impact of alcohol in the community.
Health Minister, Robyn Lambley, said carriage of the Bill means problem drinkers placed in Protective Custody three times in two months will be required to undertake 12 weeks of alcohol treatment in designated facilities across the Territory.
"Problem drinkers now have a pathway to treatment, families have an opportunity for respite and communities an alternative to anti-social behaviour," Mrs Lambley said. ... "
- Related Audio
ABC PM: NT forced to compromise on grog laws
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3792190.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-28/nt-forced-to-compromise-on-grog-la...
28 Jun 13: "After weeks of sometimes bitter debate, the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has passed radical laws allowing alcoholics to be forced into rehab. But the Territory Government's alcohol policies emerged from that process somewhat reduced. The Commonwealth forced the Territory to back down on some measures. Sara Everingham reports from Darwin.
Sara Everingham: The Northern Territory's Minister for alcohol rehabilitation, Robyn Lambley, is claiming a victory."
[Includes comments by Robyn Lambley, the Territory Opposition's Delia Lawrie and Chief Minister Adam Giles.]
* NIRS: NT COMPULSORY TREATMENT POLICY GETS THROUGH PARLIAMENT
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: NT compulsory treatment policy gets through Parliament
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29460/NT-compulsory-treatment-p...
2 Jul 13: "The Northern Territory Government has been successful in passing through Parliament its legislation to see problem drinkers forced to undertake alcohol treatment. ... The policy is opposed by a number of justice and health groups and the NT Labor Opposition."
* MALCOLM SUTTON, THE GUARDIAN UK: NT MOVE TO MANDATORY ALCOHOL REHABILITATION SPARKS CONTROVERSY
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian UK: NT move to mandatory alcohol rehabilitation sparks controversy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/01/northern-territory-alcohol-r...
1 Jul 13: "The first of four mandatory alcohol rehabilitation centres to be established in the Northern Territory will open at the Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday, offering 200 beds to house problem drinkers from an estimated 1000 homeless people in Darwin, or those "living in the long-grass". Yet opponents of the Territory's mandatory alcohol rehabilitation laws warn the legislation is criminalising a health problem in what some have argued is a "fairly radical piece of social engineering". If those who are being treated walk out of the centres three times before their 12-week treatment is complete they will face criminal charges, fines, and a potential three-month jail sentence." Malcolm Sutton in Darwin
* JULIE EDWARDS, THE GUARDIAN UK: NORTHERN TERRITORY ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT IS AN AFFRONT TO LIBERTY
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian UK: Northern Territory alcohol mandatory treatment is an affront to liberty
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/27/australia-northern-t...
27 Jun 13: "Very few pieces of Australian legislation have so blatantly disregarded basic human rights to personal freedom. ... Throughout Australia, legal systems generally confine imprisonment to cases of serious criminal misconduct and contain safeguards that protect individual liberty. This is rightly so. Prison should be used as an option of last resort. Given this fundamental starting point, it is concerning that legislation currently before the Northern Territory parliament seeks to remove safeguards and significantly limit the liberty of people who are drunk in public." Julie Edwards, CEO, Jesuit Social Services, Australia
* CONCERNED TERRITORIANS: TIME TO STOP AND RE-THINK OUR APPROACH TO ALCOHOL POLICY IN THE TERRITORY
- Media Release
Concerned Territorians: Time to Stop and Re-think our Approach to Alcohol Policy in the Territory
NAAJA: http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/82-news/137-time-to-stop-and-re-think-...
NAAJA: http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/component/attachments/download/105.html
6 Jun 13: "A broad range of groups and individuals from across the community have called on the NT Government to shelve its plans for mandatory rehabilitation and work with all relevant stakeholders to get alcohol policy right for the Territory.
"In the last few weeks we have heard a growing chorus of experts and groups working in this area speaking against the Government’s plans to lock up people with a drinking problem," said Priscilla Collins, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
"This alcohol policy will place an increased pressure on legal and health services that already have stretched resources".
"Everybody knows that the Territory has Australia’s biggest problem with grog. We all want to see an end to the grog-fuelled violence that is causing havoc in our community. We all want action. But
mandatory rehabilitation, charging people if they leave treatment when they have not committed any previous offence, is the wrong way to go. We can’t afford to waste over 100 million dollars on a scheme that is not backed by any scientifically confirmed evidence."
"The NT Government should invest in addressing the issues that lead to alcohol abuse, disempowerment and social determinants of health". ... "
Click here to read the twenty or so names of the groups and individuals making up Concerned Territorians:
http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/82-news/137-time-to-stop-and-re-think-...
* CURRENT CAMPAIGNS: NAAJA OPPOSES THE MANDATORY ALCOHOL TREATMENT BILL
NAAJA: North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
- Compilation
Current Campaigns: NAAJA opposes the Mandatory Alcohol Treatment Bill
http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/current-campaigns.html
"NAAJA calls on the NT Government to shelve its plans for mandatory rehabilitation and work with all relevant stakeholders to get alcohol policy right for the Territory.
"In the last few weeks we have heard a growing chorus of experts and groups working in this area speaking against the Government’s plans to lock up people with a drinking problem," said Priscilla Collins, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
We believe the Bill will indirectly criminalise public drunkenness and discriminates against Aboriginal people. We do not believe the Bill is based on the best evidence.
We believe the Bill introduces a scheme of unjustifiably high cost at the expense of voluntary, preventive and community-based measures.
We believe this Bill will also put substantial additional strain onto the court and criminal justice system due to minor offending likely to arise as a consequence of the scheme. ... "
[Link includes:
* NAAJA's key concerns with the Bill
* Copy of the Bill and its Explanatory Statement
* NAAJA's response to the Bill in the media
* Submissions on the Bill
* In the media
* Evidence based solutions to alcohol abuse issues in the NT]
* NAAJA, CAALAS AND NTLAC: JOINT SUBMISSION IN RELATION TO THE ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT BILL
- Submission
NAAJA, CAALAS and NTLAC: Submission on the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
NAAJA: http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/82-news/136-naaja,-caalas,-ntlac-submi...
NAAJA: http://www.naaja.org.au/index.php/component/attachments/download/103.html
27 May 13: "NAAJA, CAALAS and NTLAC make a joint submission to Penny Fielding, the Department of Health in relation to the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill.
The Submission explains our concerns with the Bill, including:
* Mandatory detention for up to 14 days of all adults who are admitted to an assessment facility;
* De facto denial of legal representation before the Tribunal;
* Ineffective appeal provisions;
* Additional pressure on the court system; and
* Unjustifiably high cost of implementing a non-evidence based scheme."
[NAAJA: North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency]
[CAALAS: Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service]
[NTLAC: Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission]
* NACCHO HEALTH REPORT: NT DEBATE MANDATORY REHABILITATION FOR TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDANT PERSONS
- Report
NACCHO health report: NT debate mandatory rehabilitation for treatment for alcohol dependant persons
NACCHO: http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/04/12/naccho-health-report-nt-debate-ma...
12 Apr 13: "AMSANT the NACCHO affiliate in the NT has provided the following report and in COMMENTS below is their response press release
A Report into the Effectiveness of Civil Commitment in the Treatment of Alcoholism, and its Suitability for Implementation the Northern Territory ... "
"This paper wishes to explore existing evidence from studies on both civil and forensic mandatory rehabilitation in order to evaluate if this is indeed an efficacious form of treatment for alcohol dependant persons, and if it would be appropriate to implement such a regime in the Northern Territory. Given the lack of evidence for the effectiveness of civil commitment, the potentially significant impact that is will have upon the freedoms individuals, families and the community. it appears that it could be difficult to justify the proposal."
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
[AMSANT: Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT]
A Report into the Effectiveness of Civil Commitment in the Treatment of Alcoholism, and its Suitability for Implementation the Northern Territory
Win Yee Tan and Melanie Johnson - Aurora Project - Summer 2013
Download full report here: http://www.naccho.org.au/download/aboriginal-health/NACCHO%20resources%2...
"CONCLUSION
In summary, there is little evidence to suggest that civil commitment of alcoholics in the manner proposed by the NT Government will be the most effective means of addressing the alcohol problem of the Northern Territory. There are concerns regarding the legal and ethical foundations for the proposal. If such a scheme is to be implemented, it is important that treatment facilities provide holistic, culturally acceptable, family focused programs, ideally run with largely Indigenous staff and input from local communities. The complex issues behind alcoholism such as intergenerational trauma and socio-economic disadvantage need to be addressed as part of an approach focussing on changing communities in order to provide environments conducive to positive change. After-care facilities also need to be provided in order to enable long-term sobriety. Without supporting those who have been through treatment with appropriate community support from AOD workers, there is a real potential for the proposed facilities becoming 'revolving doors', with associated human rights issues."
* APO NT RECENT MATERIAL ON ALCOHOL-RELATED ISSUES
APO NT: Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory
WGAR News: APO NT calls for joint Territory/ Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into Alcohol: APO NT (30 Nov 13)
https://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/29/wgar-news-apo-nt-calls-for-joint-ter...
"Contents:
* APO NT: APO NT calls for joint Territory/Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into Alcohol
* CAAMA: APO NT calls for joint Territory/Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into Alcohol [Featuring John Paterson, APO NT]
* APO NT: Not under the influence of evidence: A sober critique of the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
* APO NT: Bite the bullet and drop the Bill - and talk now!
* Claire Mackay, ABC 7.30 NT Video: Changes to mandatory alcohol rehab [Featuring John Paterson, APO NT]"
APO NT: Grog in the Northern Territory: Summit on alcohol policy and its impacts on Aboriginal people and communities (16 Nov 12)
http://apont.org.au/index.php/grog-summit.html
Welcome to APO NT:
[scroll down page] http://apont.org.au/
"Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory-APO NT-is an alliance comprising the Central Land Council (CLC), Northern Land Council (NLC), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT). The alliance was created to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including through advocating practical policy solutions to government."
* AMSANT: OPTIONS FOR ALCOHOL CONTROL IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
AMSANT: Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT
Evidence based solutions to alcohol abuse issues in the NT
- Alcohol Policy Position Paper
AMSANT: Options for Alcohol Control in the Northern Territory
http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/consult.nsf...$FILE/Appendix%201%20AMSANT%20Policy%20Alcohol%20Control%20Final%20Jan08.pdf
January 2008: "The Aboriginal community-controlled health sector has a key role in addressing alcohol and other substance misuse issues. Key underlying principles for controlling alcohol misuse include the need for an holistic approach addressing the broad determinants of substance misuse, based on community control and harm minimisation principles, and improved coordination and collaboration between Commonwealth and Territory governments and Aboriginal communities."
* BACKGROUND TO THE NT ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT BILL
Last updated: 3 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/03/background-to-the-nt-alcohol-mandator...
* MICK ESTENS, THE STRINGER: DEPRIVATION, POVERTY, DISADVANTAGE OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE ON SHOW EVERYDAY - IN COURT
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Deprivation, poverty, disadvantage of Aboriginal people on show everyday - in Court
http://thestringer.com.au/deprivation-poverty-disadvantage-of-aboriginal...
23 Jun 13: "It is not until you spend time at the Court House in Katherine Northern Territory that you get to see and feel what Aboriginal people have accepted in their life. On the day I was there the reality of 220 years of English law and failure of successive governments was on full display. A young Aboriginal cattleman that I worked with in the past had to attend Court on a charge of unlawful assault. He contacted me and asked for help in dealing with this predicament." By Mick Estens
The Stringer: Mick Estens
http://thestringer.com.au/mick-estens/
"Mick Estens is an uncle to three Kamilaroi nephews from NSW and this family connection has given him exposure to problems and racism that other people in this country do not experience. He writes that he "hates the fact that the colour of one’s skin can have a bearing on their future".
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: PARTLIAMENTARY INQUIRY CALLS FOR AN END TO LOCK-UP CULTURE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Parliamentary inquiry calls for end to lock-up culture
http://thestringer.com.au/parliamentary-inquiry-calls-for-end-to-lock-up...
20 Jun 13: "A Senate Committee initiated and then chaired by Australian Greens Senator Penny Wright has found significant failures in the prison system. Senator Wright said that a new approach has to be taken to crime and justice in Australia. In light of the doubling of the prison population in the last two decades and with the likelihood it will double once again in the next ten years now is the time to act with new approaches. One such approach is promotion and implementation of the Justice Reinvestment scheme, which is being trialled with various successes particularly in the United States." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* TRACKER: RETURN OF YOUNG WA DETAINEES PUSHED BACK
- News
newsTracker: Return of young WA detainees pushed back
http://tracker.org.au/2013/07/return-of-young-wa-detainees-pushed-back/
2 Jul 13: "The return of juvenile offenders to a detention centre in Perth’s south has been pushed back after youth custodial officers called for measures to ensure staff safety. ... During a recent Supreme Court legal challenge to the transfer, brought by the family of a young inmate, the Department of Corrective Services’ top brass told the court that the youths would start to be brought back to Banksia Hill by mid-May and would all be back by the end of June. But the target date had since been bumped to August, a spokesman for West Australian corrective services minister Joe Francis said."
* JUSTICE REINVESTMENT AND ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT NEWS
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Anger over stalled process to release juveniles from Hakea
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29457/Anger-over-stalled-proces...
28 Jun 13: "Western Australia - Members of the Noongar community are angry the process to release juveniles from an adult prison has stalled. ... Noongar woman Marianne McKay says the community also has concerns for the well-being of the young people."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Senate Committee hands down justice reinvestment report
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29425/Senate-Committee-hands-do...
21 Jun 13: "The findings of a Senate Committee into the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia have been handed down. The Greens Senator Penny Wright initiated the inquiry and she says it highlights failures in the prison system and the need for a new approach to crime and justice. Senator Wright says the committee recommends the promotion of a justice reinvestment approach in Australia."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Drugs prevention group backs justice reinvestment
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29429/Drugs-prevention-group-ba...
21 Jun 13: "The peak drugs and alcohol policy group, known as NIDAC, says a preventative approach to substance use and crime for young people is the way to go. ... Associate Professor Wilkes says dealing with substance use is important to reducing crime and incarceration rates."
National Indigenous Radio Service: People to receive criminal convictions after High Court decision
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29407/People-to-receive-crimina...
20 Jun 13: "Queensland's Indigenous legal service, known as ATSILS, says a large number of people will now have criminal convictions after a High Court decision. The Court dismissed an appeal by Palm Island woman Joan Maloney, who argued alcohol restrictions on Palm Island were discriminatory."
* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 18 June 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
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