Victorian Coaliton to ban violent drunks from licensed premises

The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition will ban violent drunks from entering licensed premises for two years once they are found guilty of an alcohol-related criminal assault, Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu said today.

Mr Baillieu said the banning of drunken violent offenders from licensed premises would help to reduce assaults across Victoria.

“It is time for urgent and serious action to stop the alarming growth in assaults,” Mr Baillieu said.

“After ten years of Labor’s neglect of law and order, there are almost 100 assaults every day in Victoria and there was a seven per cent increase in assaults last year.

“When Labor came to office in 1999, there were 19,000 assaults a year in Victoria – there are now 33,000 assaults a year.

“Violent crime in Victoria is out of control, with groups of young Victorians attacking innocent people and each other in brutal assaults every weekend,” Mr Baillieu said.

As part of a broader sentencing reform agenda, a Baillieu Coalition Government will introduce laws that exclude any person found by a court to have committed a criminal assault under the influence of alcohol from entering a licensed premise in Victoria for a minimum of two years.

The ban will apply to all licensed premises where alcohol can be consumed, including all nightclubs, bars, pubs and licensed restaurants and cafes. The ban will not apply to licensed premises where packaged liquor is sold for consumption off-site, such as bottle shops. An infringement of the ban will render a person liable for a jail sentence.

The ban will take effect at the completion of any custodial sentence or from the date of conviction if no custodial sentence is handed down. Judges will be able to impose a ban of more than two years where it is considered appropriate.

Judges will have limited discretion to grant exemptions only in exceptional circumstances, such as where an offender is a tradesman who needs to enter licensed premises for work purposes.

“The Coalition believes violence on our streets must be met with serious penalties in order to restore public safety and law and order in Victoria,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Violent attacks are increasingly linked to over-consumption of alcohol in and around licensed premises.

“Young men constitute the bulk of violent offenders and also constitute the worst offenders for binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption.

“And with violent offenders thinking they can get away with these sickening attacks because of a shortage of police on the streets and soft sentences, it’s clear that tough action is needed to make Victoria safe again.

“A Baillieu Government will not tolerate the attitude that it’s okay or normal to engage in alcohol-related violence or anti-social behaviour.

“A clear message must be sent to all Victorians that there will be zero tolerance of violence, criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

“Removing access to licensed premises will send a direct message to young violent offenders who believe violence is acceptable and who bring that violence into licensed premises and surrounding areas.

“It will also help make those premises safer for young people and others who want to have an enjoyable night out without being threatened by drunk and violent troublemakers,” Mr Baillieu said.