Kununurra and Newman Face Stricter Liquor Restrictions Amid Rising Violence
The Western Australian government is preparing to implement tougher liquor restrictions in the northern towns of Kununurra and Newman to combat soaring rates of alcohol-related harm and domestic violence. WA Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia announced that takeaway alcohol sales will face mandatory closures, including shutting bottle shops on Sundays and Mondays in Kununurra, and Sundays in Newman, with trading ending at 7 pm on other days. Individual purchase limits will also be introduced, restricting buyers to one case of beer, two bottles of wine, or one bottle of spirits per day, though exemptions apply for tourists and station residents. These measures follow successful interventions in Derby and Broome, which saw a 26 percent drop in alcohol-related crime over the last year. Statistics reveal that family and domestic violence crimes in Kununurra are 58 times higher than in metropolitan Perth, while Newman’s rates are 15 times higher. The Liquor Licensing Director is currently investigating the extent of the harm, with a six-week comment period planned for vendors before finalizing the rules. This initiative aligns with broader police requests for restrictions across 25 towns in Western Australia to address prevalent social issues linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
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Kununurra and Newman Face Stricter Liquor Restrictions Amid Rising Violence
The Western Australian government is preparing to implement tougher liquor restrictions in the northern towns of Kununurra and Newman to combat soaring rates of alcohol-related harm and domestic violence. WA Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia announced that takeaway alcohol sales will face mandatory closures, including shutting bottle shops on Sundays and Mondays in Kununurra, and Sundays in Newman, with trading ending at 7 pm on other days. Individual purchase limits will also be introduced, restricting buyers to one case of beer, two bottles of wine, or one bottle of spirits per day, though exemptions apply for tourists and station residents. These measures follow successful interventions in Derby and Broome, which saw a 26 percent drop in alcohol-related crime over the last year. Statistics reveal that family and domestic violence crimes in Kununurra are 58 times higher than in metropolitan Perth, while Newman’s rates are 15 times higher. The Liquor Licensing Director is currently investigating the extent of the harm, with a six-week comment period planned for vendors before finalizing the rules. This initiative aligns with broader police requests for restrictions across 25 towns in Western Australia to address prevalent social issues linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
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