People who are drunk in public will get the health support and help they need with laws to decriminalise public drunkenness passing in Parliament.
The Summary Offences Amendment (Decriminalisation of Public Drunkenness) Bill 2020 will save lives by ensuring no one can be locked in a police cell just for being drunk in public. It paves the way for public drunkenness to be treated as a health issue, not a crime.
These laws have been informed by Aboriginal communities and health experts – who have advocated for this reform for decades – and enable the Government to move to a culturally safe and appropriate model that prioritises the health and safety of individuals who are intoxicated in public, as well as the broader community.
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