ACT continues to step ahead in promised alcohol delivery reforms

The ACT is one step closer to implementing life-saving updates to its alcohol delivery laws, as advocates urge the territory government to implement its Liquor Amendment Bill as soon as possible, following today’s report from the parliamentary committee looking at the Bill.

“We welcome the Committee’s support of the Bill, and in particular its recommendation that the ACT Government amend the Bill to make harm minimisation the paramount object of the Liquor Act,” said Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) CEO Ayla Chorley.

“This would mean any government decisions relating to alcohol, such as approving liquor licences, must place the impact to community health and safety first, not the profit of large corporations.”

The Bill reflects evidence-based recommendations made in a range of reports and inquiries, including the Federal Government’s expert review into preventing domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) and the South Australian Royal Commission into DFSV.

Following the federal review report, in 2024, every Chief Minister and Premier committed to reviewing their liquor laws.

“The evidence is clear, and so are the stories of survivors who have been calling for change. When alcohol can be brought into homes through online sales and rapid delivery without basic safeguards, women and children experiencing violence are placed at even greater risk,” Ms Chorley said.

“These are simple, common-sense measures that we would expect in any setting where alcohol is sold. We know that alcohol intensifies and exacerbates violence, and that a 2-hour safety pause can be a critical circuit breaker to avoid escalation.”

“Industry's resistance to the changes is self-serving, and ignores the clear evidence. It is tremendously disappointing when we see industry’s unfounded claims repeated when we know they go directly against both the evidence, and what survivor-advocates know from experience to be true.”

“The ACT has shown real leadership in heeding the evidence, and the voices of victim-survivors, and acting on it. Now the focus must turn to ensuring these laws are enacted quickly,” Ms Chorley said.

FARE Lived Experience Advisor and Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine who, together with FARE CEO Ayla Chorley, addressed the committee in December, welcomed its findings.

“When we gave evidence, we carried the hopes of survivor advocates who know how critical this change is,” she stated.

“It’s common sense. But too often that sense is drowned out by those who want to keep profiting from laws that never caught up with alcohol home delivery. Those profits come at a terrible cost in homes where there is violence and alcohol is available at the click of a button.

“Now the government must act and deliver these reforms for the lives of women and children throughout Canberra,” she stated.

"Alcohol doesn’t cause family violence, but it can increase the risk or severity of violence. People who contact DVCS often speak about the perpetrator’s alcohol use as a factor when violence escalates. DVCS welcomes the measures in the Bill and the report that aim to reduce family violence related harms experienced by women and children," stated DVCS CEO Sue Webeck.

South Australia has also drafted changes to its liquor laws in line with the expert recommendations, and a returned state Labor government is set to bring its own Bill into Parliament shortly after the March state election, under a pre-election promise made by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas.

“We look forward to seeing these much-anticipated changes enacted in both the ACT and South Australia very soon, and for other states and territories to follow suit, as promised. For every woman and child who has experienced violence exacerbated by alcohol, it will mean so much,” said Ms Chorley.