Tough New Measures to curb ‘Alcohol-Fuelled Violence’.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says the Government is set to introduce a raft of new measures to curb alcohol-fuelled violence. Lockouts for the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross and an eight year mandatory minimum sentence for drug and alcohol affected one-punch assaults will be introduced as part of the NSW Government’s comprehensive package to make streets safer. Parliament will meet next week to implement some of the measures as quickly as possible.
New Measures:
• Eight year mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted under new one punch laws where the offender is intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol, plus new mandatory minimum sentences for violent assaults where intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol;
• Introduction of 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks across an expanded CBD precinct to include Kings Cross to Darling Harbour, The Rocks to Haymarket and Darlinghurst;
• New state-wide 10pm closing time for all bottle shops and liquor stores;
• Increasing the maximum sentence to 25 years for the illegal supply and possession of steroids – up from two years;
• Increased on-the-spot fines to $1,100 for continued intoxicated and disorderly behaviour disobeying a police move-on order – an increase of more than five times;
• Community awareness and media campaign to address the culture of binge drinking and the associated drug and alcohol related violence;
• Free buses running every ten minutes from Kings Cross to the CBD to connect with existing NightRide services on Friday and Saturday nights;
• Remove voluntary intoxication by drugs or alcohol as a mitigating factor when courts determine sentences;
• Increasing maximum penalties by two years where drugs and/or alcohol are aggravating factors for violent crimes including assault causing grievous bodily harm, reckless bodily harm, assault against police, affray and sexual assault;
• Enabling Police to impose an immediate CBD precinct ban of up to 48 hours for trouble-makers;
• Introduction of a periodic risk-based licencing scheme with higher fees imposed for venues and outlets that have later trading hours, poor compliance histories or are in high risk locations;
• A precinct-wide freeze on liquor licences for new pubs and clubs will be introduced.
Source: Triple M News (triplem.com.au/sydney/breaking-news/)