Lettersto the editor

Banned drinkers register is tripe

THE recent intervention by Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and some councillors admitting that local government does have a shared responsibility and role in providing a safe and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike is long overdue.

That, however, is the end of the good news as the proposition that a banned drinkers register will do the trick is nonsense as alcohol is all too easy to obtain and plentiful and only addresses one part of the problem and lawlessness abounds elsewhere.

There are two issues to be addressed simultaneously. The first is the level and frequency of juvenile lawlessness occurring primarily in the inner suburbs, but now disturbingly ranging from the northern beaches to Gordonvale and beyond.

They need to be removed from our streets, backyards and homes to appropriately staffed and resourced state government diversionary facilities where a variety of interventions can be applied under approved programs so they might be rehabilitated.

The empty and desolate 16ha Alluna Hostel at Hartley Street, Portsmith, is ideally located for that purpose and with some ingenuity and vision could be repurposed to do the job.

The second issue is the one of inner city and public space lawlessness consisting of young roaming bands of miscreants, often drug and chroming affected, terrifying the living daylights out of CBD residents and visitors alike and the other are groups of often drunken itinerants who are afforded easy access to alcohol.

This is now spreading to the northern beaches and many of these displaced are from northern ATSI communities.

This issue requires the proactive involvement of the Cairns Regional Council by firstly deploying a bylaw banning the consumption of alcohol without a permit in all CRC controlled parks, footpaths and public spaces.

Kicking the can down the road under the guise of a banned drinkers register fails us all.

Kevin Byrne, former Mayor of Cairns

Senator supports booze restrictions

I AM giving my full support to North Queensland Mayors calling for alcohol restrictions in an attempt to curb crime and violence.

Recent discussions with hoteliers and business owners had highlighted the need for urgent intervention.

Licensees in Townsville have reported a surge in anti-social behaviour since the Northern Territory imposed alcohol restrictions this month because people have been crossing the border into Queensland so they can buy alcohol with fewer restrictions.

Residents report seeing the same results from people living in ‘dry’ communities in Cape York making their way to Cairns and Townsville for health treatment and then staying, drinking and causing trouble.

It’s clear there needs to be a uniform system such as a banned drinker register.

These restrictions would allow police to clamp down on sly grogging, and also pointed to recent calls for juvenile criminals to be tested for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome as another reason to impose restrictions.

I will use my time in Canberra to seek more support from the Coalition and to meet relevant government ministers with a view to helping North Queenslanders escape the scourge of alcohol-fuelled crime and violence.

Senator Susan McDonald, Townsville

Cassowary chick killed near beach

THE Mission Beach Community Association is warning drivers to take care after a cassowary chick was killed by a vehicle about 6pm on Wednesday last week on Tully Mission Beach Rd.

It occurred south of the police