When a Coffs Harbour hotel makes it onto an undesirable list

In 2008 the NSW Government commenced a Violent Venues Scheme to monitor alcohol-related violence in hotels and bars.

This scheme publishes reports twice a year on rounds commencing 1 June and 1 December each year.

In 2019 the number of licensed premises on the NSW Government’s violent venues list has halved from 12 to 6 in the past six months, with no venues in the most restrictive level one category of 18 or more violent incidents over a twelve month period.

There are 6 licensed premises in the next category below of 12 to 17 violent incidents over a twelve month period.

Venues on the list face strict conditions and increased monitoring by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

The Coastal Hotel Bar & Restaurant at Coffs Harbour is in this second category this year to date with 13 violent incidents recorded.

In 2018 this same hotel was also on the most restrictive list with 19 violent incidents making it the second most violent licensed premises in the state at the time.

While in 2017 it was included in the second category with 13 violent incidents.

According to Liquor & Gaming NSW:

Level 2 venues are subject to three additional special conditions:

1. Cessation of alcohol services 30 minutes prior to close

2. No glass containers to be used after midnight

3. 10 minute alcohol sales time out every hour after midnight or active distribution of water and/or food.

Level 2 venues also have to maintain a register during opening hours.

Filing this under 'Can't Believe It's A Label'

Only in Tasmania, Australia, The World……

Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky Pty Ltd currently has 7,000+ litres of whisky stored in 200 litre and 300 litre barrels. Some of these whiskies are the oldest single malt whiskies produced in Australia.

So you want to drug test welfare recipients, Mr. Porter?

According to the Australian Minister for Social Services and Liberal MP for Pearce since 2013, Christian Porter; “A person who is unemployed is, based on good data, 2.4 times more likely to have addictive issues with drugs and alcohol — obviously there’s both cause and effect in there.”

While Department of Social Services (Payments Policy) Cath Halbert told a Senate estimates hearing that; "Out of 5,000 recipients who will be randomly selected for drug testing, based on available data and Department of Human Services data is that up to 425 recipients are expected to test positive to the initial test…..Around 120 recipients are estimated to test positive to a subsequent test and be referred for assessment for treatment."

A handy little DSS fact sheet informs us that drug testing at three trial sites will run for two years and that; The tests will detect use of drugs including ecstasy, marijuana and methamphetamines, including ice. However, the minister and his department remain silent as to the cost of this program.

                                                                                                                                                

We-ell…… I just don’t find any of these statements a convincing argument for drug testing a select number of Centrelink recipients on unemployment benefits commencing 1 January 2018, in the hope that just 8.48 per cent of them will initially test positive.

After all the workforce generally seems likely to have the same addictive issues and no-one is talking of drug testing them before distributing wages.

For example:

In 2013, just over 40% of Australians either smoked daily, drank alcohol in ways that put them at risk of harm or used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months; 3.1% engaged in all 3 of these behaviours. [National Drug Strategy Household Survey Detailed Report 2013]

Over 48,000 Australians were on a course of pharmacotherapy treatment for their opioid dependence on a snapshot day in June 2015.

[Opioid pharmacotherapy clients 2015]

Wastewater analysis conducted in the latter half of 2016 shows that alcohol and tobacco consumption was the highest of all substances tested in all states and territories.

[National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program Report 1, March 2017]

Declines were seen in recent use of some illegal drugs in 2016 including meth/amphetamines (from 2.1% to 1.4%), hallucinogens (1.3% to 1.0%), and synthetic cannabinoids (1.2% to 0.3%).

About 1 in 20 Australians had misused pharmaceuticals in 2016 (4.8%).

[National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016]

While the number of politicians over the years who have allegedly been drunk in charge of a parliamentary vote is notable – everyone from prime ministers and cabinet ministers right down to lowly backbenches if a recent Google search is a reliable indicator.

Australian Federal Election 2016: slugging the taxpayer for your wine bill

One of the perks of being Prime Minister of Australia is that liquor flows freely courtesy of the taxpayer’s pocket.

Tony Abbott seems to have done himself proud if the redacted wine bills (all 13 pages of them) covering less than two months between February and April 2015 are any indication:

FOI-Beverage receipts by RJ

In NSW last year domestic violence was still trending upwards according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Reported domestic violence related assaults in New South Wales numbered 29,070 incidents for the year ending December 2014.

A 2.7%  increase according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research’s New South Wales Recorded Crime Statistics 2014, making this category of assault the fifth highest trending crime across local government areas and the crime category with the highest percentage of legal proceedings commenced last year.

Conversely non-domestic violence assaults were down 5.7% across NSW in 2014, making this category of assault the ninth highest trending crime across local government areas and the crime category with the eighth highest percentage of legal proceedings commenced last year.

Clarence Valley Local Government Area's reported domestic violence related assaults numbered 192 in 2014, a ratio of 1.0 (per 100,000 persons) which had it on par with the state average.

One hundred and ninety-two domestic violence related assault reports in the Clarence Valley represented an 11.5% fall since 2013 or a reduction of 25 incidents.

Reported domestic violence related assaults in other Northern Rivers local government areas in 2014 were:

Ballina – 164 incidents (up 28 on the previous year)

Byron – 135 incidents (up 17 on the previous year)

Kyogle – 33 incidents (up 2 on the previous year)

Lismore – 215 incidents (up 26 on the previous year)

Richmond Valley – 120 incidents (up 15 on the previous year)

Tweed – 407 incidents (up 70 on the previous year).

Alcohol is involved in a significant proportion of reported domestic violence incidents:

[Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Policy options paper: Preventing alcohol-related family and domestic violence, February 2015]

It's Your Choice; Drink Smart says Clarence Valley Council

On 27 June 2014 The Daily Examiner reported that; The NSW Department of Police and Justice has awarded Clarence Valley Council $49,000 for a campaign to reduce alcohol-related violence in and around licenced premises.

Most Clarence Valley residents do not experience alcohol-related violence. Nevertheless the valley has a rate for this sort of violence which exceeds the state rate, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research (BOCSAR).

So this is a worthwhile local government initiative.

January 2004 to December 2013:

January to December 2013:

Although it is by no means the only offender on the NSW North Coast:

Yet another liquor outlet for Maclean NSW?

It would appear that Richies IGA Super Plus Liquor intends to add to the existing seven hotels, clubs and bottle shops in Maclean NSW (population 2,612) where one can obtain alcohol.

Eight outlets in total would mean there would be one place to obtain alcohol to drink on the premises or take way for every 326.5 town residents.

Any local resident wishing to make a submission concerning the Richies Stores Pty Ltd application may do so here. 

The Lower Clarence can look forward to this type of alcohol promotion if Richies’ application is successful:

* Application images found at Lower Clarence Ratepayers, Residents, Business Owners Facebook page

* Competition image found at http://www.ritchies.com.au/competitions-and-promotions

Australian Leader of the Opposition and Member for Warringah Tony Abbott and alcohol

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan in Hansard on 12 February 2009 at at 10.10pm: 

The government has a view that we can get through this global recession better than most other developed countries in the world. We can do that if we are strong, we can do that if we are united and we can do that if we put in place a very substantial fiscal stimulus such as the fiscal stimulus recommended by the IMF. But, of course, it does not suit your political agenda because, as we know, you have got the member for Higgins breathing down your neck. He is actually the architect of poor old Malcolm’s strategy. The member for Higgins, as this vital debate in the history of the country is going on, is currently in the dining room. He is currently in the dining room with the member for Menzies. He is currently in the dining room with the member for Warringah. That is what they think about the strategy from those on that side of the House.

The Daily Telegraph Tony Abbott slept through key vote 8 March 2009: 

Tony Abbott missed the key economic vote of the new Parliament - the $42 billion fiscal stimulus package - because he fell asleep after a night of drinking witnessed by MPs from both sides of Parliament. Mr Abbott told Chief Opposition Whip Alex Somlyay that he missed five divisions on the night of Thursday, February 12 because he fell asleep in his office. His nap followed dinner in the Members' Dining Room with Peter Costello, Kevin Andrews and Peter Dutton, where numerous bottles of wine were consumed.

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott during a January 2013 NovaFM radio interview: "I’d probably be too much of a Grog Monster for ya fellas."

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan in Hansard on 25 June 2013 at 2.07pm: 

The contrast was there during the global financial crisis when those opposite refused to support our stimulus. Indeed, the Leader of the Opposition slept right through the critical vote. He was drunk and did not come into the House. He slept right through that vote—

To date I can find no Hansard record of Mr. Abbott seeking, by way of personal explanation, to deny the assertions of his inebriation on 12 February 2009.

The only public explanation he offered at the time was to a Sunday Telegraph journalist and he hung up on that journalist when he was asked if he was drunk: "That is an impertinent question. I had dinner with the gentlemen you mentioned, there's no doubt we had a couple of bottles of wine, I wasn't keeping count, maybe two. This is an impertinent question. I'm going to politely hang up now.''

Catholic priest really blew it! One of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police

 
Message for drivers: Don't try to keep up with the Joneses

NSW Police reported last week that a 58-year-old male driver returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.341 after driving on the Pacific Highway near Maclean.
The driver is reported to be a Saint Patrick's South Grafton priest.
A case of too much alter altar wine?

Today's Daily Examiner reports:
Saint Patrick's South Grafton parish priest, Father Peter Jones, earned himself the dubious honour of returning one of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police.
An off-the-chart +.5 roadside reading was followed by registering .341, almost seven times the legal limit, on Wednesday when the 58-year-old Catholic priest was pulled over on the Pacific Highway at Maclean.
A concerned motorist allegedly saw the white Toyota Camry being driven by Father Jones crossing lanes at Harwood and reported the incident to police. 
Police caught up with Father Jones as he turned off the highway onto Yamba Rd and pulled him over for a roadside breath test. 
The hand-held breathalyser used by police was unable to accurately measure Fr Jones' blood-alcohol content, only indicating it was more than .5 – ten times the legal limit. 
Fr Jones was then taken by police to Maclean police station where he recorded the high-range blood-alcohol reading of .341. 
Police immediately cancelled Fr Jones' driver's licence and issued him with a court attendance notice ordering him to appear in Maclean Local Court on December 13. 
A senior police source told the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper Fr Jones' reading was one of the highest recorded in recent times in NSW. 
Fr Jones was bailed by police into the custody of St Mary's Grafton parish priest Fr Rex Hackett due to his level of intoxication. 
The Telegraph reported Fr Jones' car, which is owned by the Catholic Church, was confiscated by police and Fr Hackett transported his colleague home. 
Drug and Alcohol educator Paul Dillon told the Telegraph Fr Jones' reading could not have been reached by drinking beer, but would have required sustained prolonged drinking of hard liquor. 
“Generally speaking it would be very hard to imagine someone could get to a level about 0.3 with beer, which is between three to five per cent alcohol,” he told the Telegraph. 
“You really would be looking at significant amounts of spirits, which are 35 to 50 per cent alcohol – over a period of time.” 
Two standard drinks in an hour can see a man reach the legal limit for drivers of .05, with women only needing one standard drink.

Smokers get royal treatment in Maclean

The Lower Clarence Services Club in Maclean  has gone to great lengths and spared no expense to ensure its patrons who want to have a durrie or two can do so in very comfortable surrounds.

Here are a couple of pics of the new palatial smokers' room which is housed in a new extension the club added to its premises.

Maclean locals are reported to have said they have no idea how much the new building must have cost the club, but they reckon the architect's fees alone were probably a six-figure sum.

Club members and visitors who use the room are reported to be tickled pink and really appreciative of the club's management for making what they describe as "a very bold move".

Patrons who are partial to the dreaded weed said they are sick and tired of having to put up with the terrible antics of club patrons who are on the premises simply for tippling purposes, feeding one-armed bandits or having punts on the TAB and Keno.

"It's about time we were looked after", one patron told NCV. "We've had a gutful of having to hide in toilets and similar locations in the club. Drinkers and gamblers wouldn't put up with the conditions we've had to endure."