The state government is currently in the midst of reviewing its alcohol management plan (AMP) that will address “sly-grogging” matters as the AMPsare challenged in the High Court. But Palm islanders are trying beat charges of “sly-grogging” according to an article on TheAustralian.com.au and feel that the alcohol management plans are discriminatory towards them. They have subsequently lodged 580 separate appeals in court in an attempt to avoid fines and jail time.
The High Court will soon deliver its decision about a case brought to court and argued by Joan Monica Maloney that Alcohol management plans are discriminatory. Should the court rule in Maloney’s favour and find that AMPs are discriminatory in terms of the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act, the police may be liable to pay thousands in compensation for all the alcohol they’ve seized as part of the AMPs.
The police however have called upon the government to maintain the AMPs which it believes are keeping violence and sexual assault somewhat at bay, especially against women and children. The police say if the court rules in Maloney’s favour, the number of women and children abused as result of alcohol will “skyrocket”.
According to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service solicitor quoted in the article, the prohibitions contained in the AMPs would just drive the problems to continue underground. While those that lodged the appeals are not arguing that all AMPs were wrong but that the plans legislated were not discussed with the community.
Read what he and others had to say about the issue from the post on TheAustralian.com.au:
“There is a huge amount of organised sly-grogging happening on Palm Island. Just about any type of liquor can easily be bought from the sly-groggers,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“As an example, one can only buy one six-pack of XXXX Gold beer at a time from the only hotel on Palm Island at a cost of $30 … $120 a carton.
“Sly-groggers will deliver a carton to your door, chilled, for $110 a carton. Compare this with $37.99 a carton and $12.49 a six-pack in Townsville. Sly-groggers therefore have a (huge) profit margin.”
Only low-strength beer can be legally bought and consumed on Palm Island.
The office of the Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie, confirmed there had been 580 appeals lodged in Townsville District Court relating to charges of sly-grogging..
“Irrespective of the current High Court challenge it still remains an offence to possess alcohol in a restricted area.
“Alcohol management plans were introduced as a special measure to reduce violence and increase social cohesion within communities, and that will continue to be the focus of Newman Government programs and services,” Mr Bleijie’s spokesman said.
Ian Leavers, the police union president has argued that the people of Palm Island have never enjoyed such safety and anyone who believes that the AMPs are discriminatory are not aware of the just much alcohol has devastated these communities in the past.