Damming The Rivers of Grog: Russell Goldflam
Damming the Rivers of Grog, a report by Russell Goldflam, is a response to sentencing remarks made by Justice Riley in February 2009.
Justice Riley sentenced a string of Tennant Creek folk who had pleaded guilty to various serious violent alcohol-related offences. Having made these remarks from the bench, Justice Riley then took the unusual step of submitting to a media interview about the issue.
The sentencing remarks made by Justice Riley on February 20, 2009 (R v Green SCNT 20823606) were:
It seems plain that something must be done to curb the level of alcohol consumption in Tennant Creek. The courts regularly hear evidence of alcohol being consumed in Tennant Creek in quantities beyond comprehension. It seems that the excessive consumption of alcohol continues for so long as alcohol is available. People drink until they can drink no more and then get up the next day and start all over again. The frequency with which drunken violence occurs is unacceptable and the level of violence is likewise completely unacceptable.
For the good of the town, for the good of the victims, for the good of the offenders and for the good of the innocent children of Tennant Creek, it seems to me obvious that a system must be devised to limit the amount of alcohol made available to the people whose lives are being devastated in this way and to educate and rehabilitate those already abusing alcohol. The people of the Northern Territory cannot sit on their hands and allow what is occurring in Tennant Creek to continue. I accept that it is a complex issue but it is an issue that must be addressed and must be addressed sooner rather than later. Hard decisions must be taken.
Russell says that his paper sketches:
- The nature and extent of alcohol-related harm in Central Australia,
- The chaotic flurry of activity by Governments at all levels to respond to this problem in recent years,
- A look at what has worked and what hasn’t, and
- A bit of crystal ball peering to finish off.
So any ideas on policy that could help combat these ‘rivers of grog’?
The only people who can change this situation are the people who are drowning in it. We are all responsible for the choices we make. Our society over the past 50 or so years has created a dependency culture (on welfare, grog, cigarettes etc.) such that for anyone under the age of 50 it’s what has become ‘normalised’ in their worlds. I will work through the education and health systems to promote good choice practices. Remembering that ‘it doesn’t cost a cent to change the way you think’, people will be encouraged to think positively about themselves and their world, see themselves as survivors instead of victims, become independent of government hand outs, live in hope rather than fear and evolve their life’s journey into a more satisfying, healthy and productive one.
… So you will have the people in need go to selfhelp workshops? Will they be compulsory or optional? Will they function as part of the rehab program? Do you think they should be removed from the bad influences as they undergo their treatment? If so, where and for how long.
And to help get them independent of welfare I guess you would need to include some sort of training program to give them the skills to get a job… Possibly a program to help them get a job too (similair to the one in the movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’)
Open, transparent consultation and negotiation with all key stakeholders and a community consultation generally is what’s required. Offering training opportunities is an essential part of this process. I haven’t seen ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (yet)!! Philling the gaps of opportunity is paramount.
Fantastic report on Lateline last night, Basil, Schilds, and Russell.
Yes, It was an excellent portrayal of ‘the way it is’. But it doesn’t have to be the way it can be. A focus on positives can help to change that and we can all (dare I say) choose to be independent of addictions that destroy the people and the planet.
Last night I watched the Lateline story and was disturbed by what is going on in Alice Springs. From the way the story was reported, it seemed apparent that government policy was failing. I agree that everyone needs to make their own decisions but when you have next to no money, you’re on welfare and everyone is off to the pub… well can you blame them.
Free choice is a right in our country but sometimes we (collectively) need to prode people in the right direction, and in this siutation that means restricting the sale of alcohol or increasing the price.
What can we do to help? Write to NT and Austrlian governments?
Thanks for your comments, Tim. I agree that we (collectively) need offer people educative strategies to help turn around the way many people are thinking. Remember…it doesn’t cost a cent to change the way you think.
The Journey Story (on this site) is one vehicle for change.
Please feel free to continue making contributions to the site on issues that concern you. Also remember that the bureacracy is currently flawed and until we get ti ‘invert the prism’ so that people actually have the power rather than the bureacracy, this issue will continue to plague us all.