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| NT move to mandatory alcohol rehabilitation sparks controversy | NT move to mandatory alcohol rehabilitation sparks controversy |
| (3 months later) | |
| The first of four mandatory alcohol rehabilitation centres to be established in the Northern Territory will open at the Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday, offering 200 beds to house problem drinkers from an estimated 1000 homeless people in Darwin, or those "living in the long-grass". | The first of four mandatory alcohol rehabilitation centres to be established in the Northern Territory will open at the Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday, offering 200 beds to house problem drinkers from an estimated 1000 homeless people in Darwin, or those "living in the long-grass". |
| Yet opponents of the Territory's mandatory alcohol rehabilitation laws warn the legislation is criminalising a health problem in what some have argued is a "fairly radical piece of social engineering". | Yet opponents of the Territory's mandatory alcohol rehabilitation laws warn the legislation is criminalising a health problem in what some have argued is a "fairly radical piece of social engineering". |
| If those who are being treated walk out of the centres three times before their 12-week treatment is complete they will face criminal charges, fines, and a potential three-month jail sentence. | If those who are being treated walk out of the centres three times before their 12-week treatment is complete they will face criminal charges, fines, and a potential three-month jail sentence. |
| Centres will open at Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Alice Springs over the next 18 months, while a fifth centre may also be opened on the Tiwi Islands. | Centres will open at Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Alice Springs over the next 18 months, while a fifth centre may also be opened on the Tiwi Islands. |
| North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive officer Priscilla Collins says the new laws could mean a significant increase of alcoholics in prison and is urging that the health issues be looked at directly. | North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive officer Priscilla Collins says the new laws could mean a significant increase of alcoholics in prison and is urging that the health issues be looked at directly. |
| NT police lock up five times the national average of people – 826 per 100,000 – and 85% of those are Aboriginal people. | NT police lock up five times the national average of people – 826 per 100,000 – and 85% of those are Aboriginal people. |
| "By next year we will have a 1000-bed prison at the cost of $498 million built, and it's going to be full," Collins says. "By December 2016 they're going to need another 1000-bed prison. | "By next year we will have a 1000-bed prison at the cost of $498 million built, and it's going to be full," Collins says. "By December 2016 they're going to need another 1000-bed prison. |
| "Let's stop the 'lock-up' approach and deal with the issues as to why people come into contact with the system." | "Let's stop the 'lock-up' approach and deal with the issues as to why people come into contact with the system." |
| But Larrakia Nation chief executive officer Ilana Eldridge, who heads a corporation representing the traditional owners of the land in and around Darwin, has welcomed more treatment centres, acknowledging that some people would benefit from forced rehabilitation. | But Larrakia Nation chief executive officer Ilana Eldridge, who heads a corporation representing the traditional owners of the land in and around Darwin, has welcomed more treatment centres, acknowledging that some people would benefit from forced rehabilitation. |
| With only a 10% success rate achieved through voluntary rehabilitation, however, she was not hopeful of increased success. | With only a 10% success rate achieved through voluntary rehabilitation, however, she was not hopeful of increased success. |
| "I think there are other areas that are being ignored in exchange for what is a fairly radical piece of social engineering," Eldridge says. | "I think there are other areas that are being ignored in exchange for what is a fairly radical piece of social engineering," Eldridge says. |
| Larrakia Nation research in 2007 found that about 80% of homeless people had experienced between eight and 12 violent traumatic experiences in their lifetime. | Larrakia Nation research in 2007 found that about 80% of homeless people had experienced between eight and 12 violent traumatic experiences in their lifetime. |
| "There's a huge mental health issue that isn't being addressed," Eldridge says. | "There's a huge mental health issue that isn't being addressed," Eldridge says. |
| According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data based on the 2012 Census, the level of homelessness in the NT is about 17 times that of the rest of the country, a rate of 730.7 per 10,000 people, compared to the national rate of 48.9. | According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data based on the 2012 Census, the level of homelessness in the NT is about 17 times that of the rest of the country, a rate of 730.7 per 10,000 people, compared to the national rate of 48.9. |
| "Homelessness and alcohol abuse is an integrated issue." | "Homelessness and alcohol abuse is an integrated issue." |
| Eldridge wants the government to complement its mandatory rehabilitation policy by funding more halfway houses such as the one Larrakia Nation runs on the outskirts of Darwin. | Eldridge wants the government to complement its mandatory rehabilitation policy by funding more halfway houses such as the one Larrakia Nation runs on the outskirts of Darwin. |
| The Watch House – Pick Up and Case Management Project centre offers a refuge where homeless people can have a break from alcohol and their personal "humbugs", or troubles, and associated "humbuggers" – peers who create trouble. | The Watch House – Pick Up and Case Management Project centre offers a refuge where homeless people can have a break from alcohol and their personal "humbugs", or troubles, and associated "humbuggers" – peers who create trouble. |
| Co-ordinator Paul Ellard and his Aboriginal co-worker, Jack Roe, collect homeless people from the streets and form relationships, organise health care, engage them in fixing and refurbishing cast away furniture and white goods, facilitate work opportunities such as lawn mowing with fixed up lawnmowers, and source cheap accommodation for those who "get off the grog". | Co-ordinator Paul Ellard and his Aboriginal co-worker, Jack Roe, collect homeless people from the streets and form relationships, organise health care, engage them in fixing and refurbishing cast away furniture and white goods, facilitate work opportunities such as lawn mowing with fixed up lawnmowers, and source cheap accommodation for those who "get off the grog". |
| The centre is also undertaking a "return to country" program, assisting homeless people to clean themselves up and get back to their own communities. | The centre is also undertaking a "return to country" program, assisting homeless people to clean themselves up and get back to their own communities. |
| The Watch House recently won the federal government's 2013 National Homelessness Services Achievement Awards, yet despite its success, its funding runs out on Monday and Paul is under no illusions about the task ahead of the NT government. | The Watch House recently won the federal government's 2013 National Homelessness Services Achievement Awards, yet despite its success, its funding runs out on Monday and Paul is under no illusions about the task ahead of the NT government. |
| The lifespan for homeless Aboriginals is typically short, with many dying at about 50 years of age from liver or heart failure, as well as untreated diabetes, which can cause gangrene and result in amputation. | The lifespan for homeless Aboriginals is typically short, with many dying at about 50 years of age from liver or heart failure, as well as untreated diabetes, which can cause gangrene and result in amputation. |
| "Of about 4,000 cases we've dealt with in a bit over two years, we've sorted hundreds of people in terms of getting their health sorted and getting them back to country," Ellard says. | "Of about 4,000 cases we've dealt with in a bit over two years, we've sorted hundreds of people in terms of getting their health sorted and getting them back to country," Ellard says. |
| "But getting them accommodated here through NT government housing, or getting people to voluntarily go through rehabilitation, that number is only one." | "But getting them accommodated here through NT government housing, or getting people to voluntarily go through rehabilitation, that number is only one." |
| Ellard has worked with three generations of Aboriginals since his teens and offers no solution for urban drift and alcoholism, but he does have concerns over the potential for criminal charges. | Ellard has worked with three generations of Aboriginals since his teens and offers no solution for urban drift and alcoholism, but he does have concerns over the potential for criminal charges. |
| "If it's compulsory rehabilitation and they don't turn up or they go for a walk, then they're in more trouble and then it's razor wire, and that isn't good for these guys." | "If it's compulsory rehabilitation and they don't turn up or they go for a walk, then they're in more trouble and then it's razor wire, and that isn't good for these guys." |
| NT Alcohol Rehabilitation Minister Robyn Lambley said without the threat of jail there would be little hope of keeping problem drinkers in rehabilitation. | NT Alcohol Rehabilitation Minister Robyn Lambley said without the threat of jail there would be little hope of keeping problem drinkers in rehabilitation. |
| "If they abscond it's a fine or jailing up to three months, but that's at the discretion of a judge, who, in all likelihood, will be extremely reluctant to put people in jail for this," she says. | "If they abscond it's a fine or jailing up to three months, but that's at the discretion of a judge, who, in all likelihood, will be extremely reluctant to put people in jail for this," she says. |
| "It's just meant to be a deterrent. We don't want to put people in jail … jails are already bursting at the seams." | "It's just meant to be a deterrent. We don't want to put people in jail … jails are already bursting at the seams." |
| Potential candidates will be assessed from those problem drinkers who draw attention from police and are considered a risk to themselves and others. | Potential candidates will be assessed from those problem drinkers who draw attention from police and are considered a risk to themselves and others. |
| If they are taken into "protective custody" three times in the space of two months they will be assessed for rehabilitation over a maximum period of eight days by clinicians and a tribunal. | If they are taken into "protective custody" three times in the space of two months they will be assessed for rehabilitation over a maximum period of eight days by clinicians and a tribunal. |
| Deputy chief minister Dave Tollner says they have lost cognitive ability through alcoholism and need a break to make rational decisions about their lives. | Deputy chief minister Dave Tollner says they have lost cognitive ability through alcoholism and need a break to make rational decisions about their lives. |
| It would also give reprieve for their affected families and communities. | It would also give reprieve for their affected families and communities. |
| Paul Shanton Deegan lives in the long-grass after moving to Darwin from Halls Gap, Western Australia. | Paul Shanton Deegan lives in the long-grass after moving to Darwin from Halls Gap, Western Australia. |
| He says homelessness is a bigger issue than alcohol and accuses successive Australian governments of favouring asylum seekers and immigrants for housing over Aboriginals. | He says homelessness is a bigger issue than alcohol and accuses successive Australian governments of favouring asylum seekers and immigrants for housing over Aboriginals. |
| "Boat people can sneak in and go to jail, come out and get a new house," Deegan says. | "Boat people can sneak in and go to jail, come out and get a new house," Deegan says. |
| "But this is our own country, and the government is supposed to be thinking about us. I know a lot of Aboriginals are trying their best and working really hard to get to the top, but it's time governments took a look at the reality of what's happening in the street. We are being treated like animals." | "But this is our own country, and the government is supposed to be thinking about us. I know a lot of Aboriginals are trying their best and working really hard to get to the top, but it's time governments took a look at the reality of what's happening in the street. We are being treated like animals." |
| A homeless elderly Warlpiri woman who did not want to be named says she has been on the waiting list for housing since 2009. | A homeless elderly Warlpiri woman who did not want to be named says she has been on the waiting list for housing since 2009. |
| Living in the long-grass was a hard life and offered little hope for the future. | Living in the long-grass was a hard life and offered little hope for the future. |
| "Some say we've got to wait 10 years to get our house here," she says. | "Some say we've got to wait 10 years to get our house here," she says. |
| Lambley says the lack of housing has been a recognised problem for years. She says the government will focus on establishing more halfway houses and "back to country" programs along with its treatment centres. | Lambley says the lack of housing has been a recognised problem for years. She says the government will focus on establishing more halfway houses and "back to country" programs along with its treatment centres. |
| "Transitioning clients from rehabilitation straight back into communities is fraught with risks of relapse," she says. | "Transitioning clients from rehabilitation straight back into communities is fraught with risks of relapse," she says. |
| "But if these people are waiting in the long-grass to be accommodated in Department of Housing accommodation then yes, they will be waiting for a long time. | "But if these people are waiting in the long-grass to be accommodated in Department of Housing accommodation then yes, they will be waiting for a long time. |
| "It doesn't matter who you are, the waiting lists are long. They're too long." | "It doesn't matter who you are, the waiting lists are long. They're too long." |
| Arafura Member of the Legislative Assembly and Tiwi Islander Francis Xavier, or Maralampuwi, wants a fifth mandatory alcohol rehabilitation centre to be established on Bathurst Island at Four Mile Camp so he can bring islanders back home to receive rehabilitation and reconnect with their culture and responsibilities. | Arafura Member of the Legislative Assembly and Tiwi Islander Francis Xavier, or Maralampuwi, wants a fifth mandatory alcohol rehabilitation centre to be established on Bathurst Island at Four Mile Camp so he can bring islanders back home to receive rehabilitation and reconnect with their culture and responsibilities. |
| Lambley says it is an example of the model she is hoping to develop. | Lambley says it is an example of the model she is hoping to develop. |
| "Tiwi Island landowners recognise there is a significant proportion of their community that comes into town to drink and they, as a community, want them to come back," she says. | "Tiwi Island landowners recognise there is a significant proportion of their community that comes into town to drink and they, as a community, want them to come back," she says. |
| "They want to provide their own rehabilitation service in conjunction with us, and get their people working to be productive, healthy members of their community." | "They want to provide their own rehabilitation service in conjunction with us, and get their people working to be productive, healthy members of their community." |
| Maralumpuwi, who is himself a teetotaller, also wants full-strength beer to be available at the islands' four social clubs, which only open for three hours, four days a week. | Maralumpuwi, who is himself a teetotaller, also wants full-strength beer to be available at the islands' four social clubs, which only open for three hours, four days a week. |
| Currently only mid-strength beer is available, creating an incentive for locals to travel to Darwin where they can access stronger alcohol late into the evening every day. | Currently only mid-strength beer is available, creating an incentive for locals to travel to Darwin where they can access stronger alcohol late into the evening every day. |
| It would also help the clubs economically if the Tiwi Islanders bought the beer locally rather than in Darwin, with recreation and sporting facilities, particularly football clubs, to benefit from club sponsorship. | It would also help the clubs economically if the Tiwi Islanders bought the beer locally rather than in Darwin, with recreation and sporting facilities, particularly football clubs, to benefit from club sponsorship. |
| "If people are going to consume alcohol, then let's collect the revenue here and put it back into productive constructive things, rather than lose it to Darwin," Maralumpuwi says. | "If people are going to consume alcohol, then let's collect the revenue here and put it back into productive constructive things, rather than lose it to Darwin," Maralumpuwi says. |
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