March 26, 2014
Queenslanders are being invited to have their say on the State Government’s tough new “Safe Night Out Strategy” which includes increased fines for bad behaviour near licensed premises.
Premier Campbell Newman released the draft strategy at the weekend.
Key elements include:
- Increased on-the-spot fines for causing a public nuisance ($660) and refusing to leave licensed premises ($550)
- Maximum penalties for obstructing police will increase to $6600 or 12 months jail.
- “Coward punch” deaths will be punishable through a new offence of unlawful striking causing death, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; offenders will be required to serve 80 per cent of their sentence before being able to apply for parole
- Offenders convicted of certain serious violent offences committed while intoxicated in public will also have to serve 80 per cent of their sentence of imprisonment before being able to apply for parole
- Maximum penalties for aggravated serious assaults on public officers, such as ambulance officers, will increase from seven years jail to 14 years
- Penalties for using anabolic steroids will be strengthened to similar levels as other dangerous drugs, including methamphetamine and ecstasy
- Police will be empowered to issue immediate orders to ban a person from being in or around a licensed venue
- Police will conduct mandatory drug and alcohol testing on people who have been charged with serious offences to assist in prosecution
- A new power can be used to prohibit licensees from engaging in specific promotional practices that encourage the irresponsible consumption of alcohol
- “Mystery shopper” random checks will ensure licensees provide a safe environment and comply with liquor licensing rules
- The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation will get increased ability to undertake covert and overt compliance monitoring
- Compulsory alcohol and drug education in all Queensland schools from Years 7 to 12
Mr Newman said the plan targeted troublemakers and made them accountable for their actions “while still ensuring the vast majority who do the right thing can have a good time and enjoy themselves safely”.
“Young people need to know what sort of behaviour is expected of them when they reach drinking age,” Mr Newman said.
“Just as the culture around drink driving has changed, so too must community attitudes to excessive drinking and drug use.
“We are calling on all Queenslanders to get involved to change the culture, to restore responsibility and respect, and to ensure bad behaviour is no longer tolerated.
“We want Queensland to be the safest place in Australia for people to go out and enjoy themselves.”
Under the strategy, being drunk will no longer be able to be used as an excuse to lessen a person’s sentence and courts will also be able to hand out lifetime bans from licensed premises.
A copy of the strategy is available online and will be open for public comment for four weeks.
