Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE: I ask the Hon. John Della Bosca, representing the Premier, a question without notice. Is it a fact that a Federal parliamentary report found that Australia's number one social problem is not heroin but the drug alcohol and that the social annual cost of alcohol is $7.6 billion for Australia? Is it a fact that the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia reported that between 41 and 70 per cent of violent crimes are committed whilst the offender is under the influence of alcohol, and that alcohol is involved in about 50 per cent of cases of domestic violence and sexual violence?

Is it a fact that the biggest New South Wales liquor law reform in 25 years, announced by the Premier on 6 November, will increase the sales outlets for alcohol and so increase the consumption of alcohol in New South Wales, resulting in an increase in social and economic costs? Will the Premier consider all these factors before introducing the new liquor legislation?

The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I thank Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile for his question. It is a very good question and a complex one to answer. I will just make a couple of observations. The member knows the views of the Government and my views on these matters are well rehearsed. We have clearly taken the view that alcohol is one of the drugs in our society that is problematic and is at least one of the causal factors in many of the issues he referred to, whether it be domestic violence, social activity on the streets, violent activity, assaults or other criminal activity. Indeed, one could make the rhetorical point that the effects of alcohol, as a licit drug, include many of the worst effects of illicit drugs, about which we have a stronger view in the criminal justice system.

However, I remind the honourable member of a fundamental issue. I do not want to raise too many of the arguments of the distant past, but alcohol is, and has been for a long time, part of Australian culture and our lifestyle. The overwhelming majority of Australians take the view that, consumed in responsible amounts, alcohol is not harmful and may even be beneficial. Alcohol is an accepted drug in our culture and we must deal with it using policies and harm minimisation to reduce its negative social impact. I do not think dictating the operations of businesses that deal with alcohol can easily or necessarily control it.

Recent announcements made by the Premier and the Minister for Gaming and Racing, the Hon. Graham West, were manifold and will have many effects. They deal with a range of opportunities to minimise harm and to engage with the social consequences of alcohol and alcohol outlets. The member is aware of the evidence that much of the abuse and many of the social problems caused by irresponsible consumption of alcohol relate to our drinking culture and alcohol-related activities and not to the behaviour of alcohol retailers. In other words, he could find—and it could be argued on the evidence—that although the Premier's reforms might increase the number of places at which it is possible to purchase alcohol, they might also have a positive impact over time on our drinking culture. That has been the policy challenge for any responsible government and anyone participating in this debate.

We are a long way from regulating the consumption of alcohol as it was regulated in the days of wowser versus punter arguments. If we want to minimise the social effects and the harm caused by alcohol, our policies should address changing our culture and attitudes to it and dealing with health implications, preventative measures and education. Although I do not like the terminology, we should promote a more "sophisticated" approach to alcohol consumption. That might mean that people will be less inclined to look at alcohol as a means of becoming intoxicated and acknowledge the negative health and social impacts that concern the honourable member. I will refer the balance of the question to the Premier for any other comments he might want to add.