Community must change attitude to address alcohol-fuelled violence, says NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell

Updated

The New South Wales Premier and Police Commissioner have met in Sydney after a weekend of alcohol-fuelled violence which saw scores of arrests.

The 540 arrests came amid a national crackdown, called Operation Unite, targeting alcohol-related crime over two days.

A 23-year-old man remains critical after having his head stomped on during one attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach early on Saturday.

Police say the arrests are evidence that messages about sensible drinking are not getting through, and that simply putting more officers on the street will not solve the problem.

Premier Barry O'Farrell says the whole community needs to change its attitude towards booze.

"The community needs to send a very clear message that it is unacceptable to drink yourself silly," he said.

"Whether in backyards or on beach, whether at barbecues or in other parties, we need individuals, family and friends to get a message to try to change a culture."

Commissioner Andrew Scipione says that the results of Operation Unite are "marginally better" than last year, but he is taking no comfort from that fact.

The problem is cultural because there are societies where alcohol is cheap and easily obtainable but people rarely get violent as a result of drinking a lot, for example Vietnam. Unfortunately unchecked aggression and random violence have deep roots in Australia. dpete via comment

"The reality is I'm saddened, I'm annoyed and sometimes I think we're almost at the point where people need to start falling out of love with the alcohol," he said.

"They need to understand that this type of behaviour, that we actually go out and arrest people for during Operation Unite, is something that unless they make the change, we won't see any marked difference.

"The reality is Operation Unite is symbolic."

The co-chair of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol, Professor Mike Daube says the New South Wales Government needs to do more to address problem drinking.

"The state governments can't just talk rhetoric and do nothing, the alcohol lobby is immensely powerful," he said.

"It's not just the pubs. It's also the bottle shops, it's the clubs, and somehow they seem to be able to convince governments that doing nothing is the answer to the problem."

Dr Alex Wodak from the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation says the Commonwealth must show leadership in the fight against problem drinking.

Alcohol is too cheap and it's too available. There are too many outlets, the hours are too long, the conditions are too liberal. Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation President Dr Alex Wodak

"We do know what to do about it," he said.

"The problem is that the politicians, whoever forms government, aren't prepared to do the things that we know work, and we presume the drinks industry stops them doing it.

"It comes down to price and availability. Alcohol is too cheap and it's too available. There are too many outlets, the hours are too long, the conditions are too liberal.

"Almost every family in Australia is touched by at least one member with a severe alcohol problem.

"Why won't the politicians do something to protect the community?"

The Premier says that the Government has had success in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence in problem areas, but a "one-size-fits-all" approach will not work.

"Don't under estimate the success of the liquor accords delivered in Manly which was one of the hot spots on a Friday and Saturday night which has now considerably calmed down," he said.

"Don't underestimate the range of efforts we've put in place with the City of Sydney and a variety of agencies up at King's Cross that have also seen a reduction in the last figures I saw of almost a third in assaults on licensed premises."

Bondi attack

Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital says a man remains in a critical but stable condition, two days after a violent bashing at Bondi Beach.

The 23-year-old was punched and had his head stomped on before he was found lying in a gutter in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police say they are reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding bars and shops in the hope of identifying a suspect.

They are also speaking with friends who were drinking with the man in a park before the attack.

In separate incidents, police have released security footage of two men they would like to speak to about a fight outside a Bondi hotel.

One man was knocked unconscious during the melee on the footpath around lunchtime on Saturday.

And six men were arrested after an alleged scuffle with police outside a pub in Darlinghurst early on Sunday morning.

Officers say they had to use a baton and OC spray after the group confronted them after being asked to get off the road.

NSW Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas says people need to think about the consequences of their actions.

"These sorts of incidents have very long-term and very serious implications for people, not only for victims who get assaulted and their families but for the offenders themselves," he said.

"If you find yourself arrested and charged, put before a court and convicted, it will probably stop you from being able to travel to a fair part of the world, probably mean a whole lot of jobs you will never be able to get because of that criminal conviction, let alone the shame and the angst of going to a court and having your whole family shamed in that way."

Topics: drugs-and-substance-abuse, alcohol, police, bondi-2026

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