Strelley remote Aboriginal community bans alcohol

Pilbara remote Aboriginal community Strelley will ban alcohol in an effort to reduce harm and promote community healing. The decision, enacted following a community vote, will enforce alcohol restrictions until June 2029. Founded in 1970 during the Aboriginal strike, Strelley holds a rich Indigenous history and is home to Australia’s oldest independent Aboriginal community-controlled school. The move to ban alcohol was motivated partly by the community’s desire to safeguard Strelley School and mitigate alcohol-related issues. Under Section 175 of the Liquor Control Act, the prohibition prohibits bringing, buying, possessing, or consuming liquor within the restricted area. Penalties for breaching the regulations are $5000 for licensees, managers of licensed premises and directors of a body corporate, and $2000 for others. The regulations also authorise police to seize and dispose of opened or unopened containers of liquor suspected of being brought into the dry communities. Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia praised Strelley’s decision to become a dry community. “I commend these Aboriginal communities for showing strong leadership and for their commitment to protecting residents from alcohol-related harm,” he said. “These bans will greatly assist in creating a safe environment for members of these communities by preventing alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour, violence and crime.” Mr Papalia said reducing alcohol-related violence in communities across regional WA remained a priority for the Cook Government. The addition of Strelley brings to 30 the total number of dry communities in WA.