Bid to ditch alcohol law
ROBBIE Katter has called on the government to reconsider its Alcohol Management Plan due to the increasing dangers of home- brewed “sly grog”.
The Traeger MP said children as young as eight years old make and drink toxic homebrew in the Mornington Island community in far North Queensland.
“The community has only been given empty promises, reviews and reviews of reviews by the government,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter said the homebrew being made was incredibly dangerous due to its high alcohol content and level of toxicity. “The community has been ravaged by this deadly brand of alcohol,” he said.
“The reports we are hearing is about three quarters of people on the island are drinking home brew regularly and kids, some as young as eight, are involved, not just drinking it but making it.”
Mr Katter said the alcohol plan, which was introduced on Mornington Island in 2004, was failing.
“It is estimated that 40 per cent of presentations at the local hospital are due solely to intoxication.
“The sly grog is devastating to people’s health and they are drinking it because they can’t buy a few beers.”
Mornington Shire Council chief executive Frank Mills said there was community support for the lifting of prohibition and reintroduction of a responsible alcohol strategy.
“It is something the community wants, it’s something that needs to happen,” Mr Mills said.
“The toxicity levels of the home brew are causing organ failure in some people – it is a significantly seriously problem.’’