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Action on alcohol and gendered violence

In September 2024 at National Cabinet, First Ministers agreed to review every state and territory’s liquor laws to prioritise the prevention of violence against women and children. The Prime Minister also acknowledged that tackling the impacts of alcohol on violence was a priority. This is the result of years of work by victim survivors and advocates who have shared their stories and called on leaders to acknowledge and act on alcohol’s role in violence.

State and territory governments around Australia have the power to keep women and children safe, by better regulating the way alcohol is marketed, sold and delivered into homes. Health and community leaders are now working with every government to ensure victim survivors are heard and that alcohol laws prioritise women and children’s health and wellbeing.

of women who experienced sexual assault by a man in the past 10 years believed that alcohol or another substance contributed to their most recent incident
0 %
of women who experienced sexual assault by a man in the past 10 years believed that alcohol or another substance contributed to their most recent incident
0 %

Status of state/territory reviews of alcohol laws

At a National Cabinet meeting in September 2024, all State and Territory First Ministers agreed to review their alcohol laws and their impact on family and domestic violence victims. The table below outlines each jurisdictions’ progress against this commitment.

  1. Personal Safety Survey, Australia, ABS, 2023
  2. Alcohol/Drug-Involved Family Violence in Australia (ADIVA) sourced from Family, domestic and sexual violence, AIHW, 2024 

The ACT Government has committed to reviewing alcohol laws in line with the National Cabinet commitment.

The NSW Government is undertaking a second phase review of the Liquor Laws in relation to online delivery.

It is not yet known if this will be extended out based on the recommendation of National Cabinet.

No action committed.

The NT Government has formally indicated that it intends to repeal the Minimum Unit Price which would weaken alcohol laws.

The Queensland Government has committed to continuing to progress alcohol law changes in relation to online delivery.

It is not yet known if this will be extended out based on the recommendation of National Cabinet.

The SA Government has released a Draft Bill which includes some of the recommendations from the Rapid Review. They are currently consulting on this.

No action committed.

No action committed.

No action committed.

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Together, we’re calling for governments to prioritise our community’s safety and wellbeing over industry profits.

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“A fire cannot be started by kerosene alone, it needs a match. But when fuel is added, it burns more intensely. The same is true of the link between domestic violence and alcohol.”
Kym Valentine
Television/theatre actor and Survivor Advocate

“A fire cannot be started by kerosene alone, it needs a match. But when fuel is added, it burns more intensely. The same is true of the link between domestic violence and alcohol.”

Kym Valentine

Television/theatre actor and Survivor Advocate

Campaign timeline
December 2024
December 19, 2024

Community and health leaders welcomed the South Australian Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws, which included clear primary objectives to prevent gendered violence and restrict alcohol sales and delivery timeframes.

September 16, 2024

FARE hosted a webinar unpacking the link between alcohol and gendered and family violence. The four-person panel sharing insights on lived experience, research, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and advocacy included Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine, globally-renowned researcher in alcohol-related intimate partner violence Dr Ingrid Wilson, proud Palawa woman Nicole Hewlett, and criminology Professor Michael Salter.

September 6, 2024

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced alcohol would be one of the areas federal, state and territory governments would act on to prevent gender-based violence. Australia’s Premiers and Chief Ministers committed to reviewing their liquor laws and sharing best practice and reforms.

September 3, 2024

More than 30 community, health, Aboriginal, research and women’s organisations signed an open letter calling on the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers to commit to taking action on alcohol’s role in domestic, family and sexual violence.

August 28, 2024

Dozens of Australians called on their State and Territory leaders to adopt in full the rapid review expert panel’s recommendations relating to alcohol, to prevent further harm to women and children.

August 23, 2024

The Rapid Review Expert Panel released their report, which included recommendations relating to addressing alcohol, to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia.

August 21, 2024

In her National Press Club address, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said better regulating harmful industries, like alcohol, must be included in a multi-pronged approach to prevent gender-based and family violence.

July 29, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi told The Project how big alcohol companies and their lobbyists have undermined meaningful, common-sense reforms that would prevent harm to women and children.

July 29, 2024

Ms Giorgi said she was “sad but not surprised” to hear evidence had been suppressed and that all options to prevent harm must be on the table.

July 27, 2024

The Saturday Paper revealed how part of the evidence to inform the current strategy for the prevention of gender-based violence was suppressed 10 years ago. Our CEO Caterina Giorgi highlighted that while we can't change the past, we have an opportunity now to confront the powerful commercial drivers of violence – including alcohol and gambling.

June 24, 2024

Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine and FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined the ABC’s Conversation Hour to discuss alcohol’s role in violence.

June 17, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi and community leaders highlight problematic DrinkWise campaign ahead of State of Origin, and the need for meaningful action to prevent violence against women and children.

June 5, 2024

Domestic violence support services braced themselves for a surge of calls on State of Origin game night, sparking a raft of media coverage.

May 31, 2024

The conversation about alcohol’s role in exacerbating men’s violence against women and children reached Question Time. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the links between excessive consumption of alcohol and violence, suggesting there is “more to do”.

May 30, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined Ms Hill, Professor Salter, Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock and Federal Member for Warringah Zali Steggall, and representatives of community organisations to urge governments to stand up to industry interests and take meaningful action on alcohol.

May 30, 2024

Journalist Jess Hill and UNSW Professor of Criminology Michael Salter addressed parliamentarians and community organisations on their White Paper, ‘Rethinking Primary Prevention’, at Parliament House in Canberra. The briefing highlighted why governments must act on commercial drivers of men’s violence, including alcohol and gambling, as one part of the strategy to protect women and children.

May 29, 2024

Community organisations and researchers gathered in Perth to discuss the policy responses needed to address alcohol’s role in violence. The discussion focused on a review study, led by Dr Ingrid Wilson, which found men’s high-risk alcohol use contributes to violence yet interventions to target these harms are scarce.

May 28, 2024

The Federal Government appointed an expert panel to conduct a rapid review into how to prevent men’s violence against women and children.

May 9, 2024

Following the roundtable, the Commissioner drew a link between alcohol and family violence - and implored Premiers and Chief Ministers to consider better regulating.

May 7, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined 70 experts from across the country at the Crisis Talks Into Missing and Murdered Women, convened by Domestic Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin.

May 2, 2024

Media coverage the day after National Cabinet highlights the action that's required on alcohol to curb rates of family violence.

May 1, 2024

FARE responds to National Cabinet's decision to overlook alcohol's role in family violence.

May 1, 2024

National Cabinet meets and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces a suite of measures that do not include any mention of meaningful reform on the commercial determinants of family violence, including alcohol and gambling.

April 30, 2024

Dozens of community, health and Aboriginal organisations join FARE in signing an open letter to National Cabinet, calling for immediate action on better alcohol regulation to reduce rates of men's violence against women and children.

Share your story

Bold policy change must be informed by people across the country with lived experience of the role alcohol plays in fuelling men’s violence against women.

Sharing your story can help ensure decision-makers listen to and consider lived experience when enacting policies that affect our communities.

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Campaign timeline

December 19, 2024

Community and health leaders welcomed the South Australian Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws, which included clear primary objectives to prevent gendered violence and restrict alcohol sales and delivery timeframes.

September 16, 2024

FARE hosted a webinar unpacking the link between alcohol and gendered and family violence. The four-person panel sharing insights on lived experience, research, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and advocacy included Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine, globally-renowned researcher in alcohol-related intimate partner violence Dr Ingrid Wilson, proud Palawa woman Nicole Hewlett, and criminology Professor Michael Salter.

September 6, 2024

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced alcohol would be one of the areas federal, state and territory governments would act on to prevent gender-based violence. Australia’s Premiers and Chief Ministers committed to reviewing their liquor laws and sharing best practice and reforms.

September 3, 2024

More than 30 community, health, Aboriginal, research and women’s organisations signed an open letter calling on the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers to commit to taking action on alcohol’s role in domestic, family and sexual violence.

August 28, 2024

Dozens of Australians called on their State and Territory leaders to adopt in full the rapid review expert panel’s recommendations relating to alcohol, to prevent further harm to women and children.

August 23, 2024

The Rapid Review Expert Panel released their report, which included recommendations relating to addressing alcohol, to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia.

August 21, 2024

In her National Press Club address, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said better regulating harmful industries, like alcohol, must be included in a multi-pronged approach to prevent gender-based and family violence.

July 29, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi told The Project how big alcohol companies and their lobbyists have undermined meaningful, common-sense reforms that would prevent harm to women and children.

July 29, 2024

Ms Giorgi said she was “sad but not surprised” to hear evidence had been suppressed and that all options to prevent harm must be on the table.

July 27, 2024

The Saturday Paper revealed how part of the evidence to inform the current strategy for the prevention of gender-based violence was suppressed 10 years ago. Our CEO Caterina Giorgi highlighted that while we can't change the past, we have an opportunity now to confront the powerful commercial drivers of violence – including alcohol and gambling.

June 24, 2024

Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine and FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined the ABC’s Conversation Hour to discuss alcohol’s role in violence.

June 17, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi and community leaders highlight problematic DrinkWise campaign ahead of State of Origin, and the need for meaningful action to prevent violence against women and children.

June 5, 2024

Domestic violence support services braced themselves for a surge of calls on State of Origin game night, sparking a raft of media coverage.

May 31, 2024

The conversation about alcohol’s role in exacerbating men’s violence against women and children reached Question Time. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the links between excessive consumption of alcohol and violence, suggesting there is “more to do”.

May 30, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined Ms Hill, Professor Salter, Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock and Federal Member for Warringah Zali Steggall, and representatives of community organisations to urge governments to stand up to industry interests and take meaningful action on alcohol.

May 30, 2024

Journalist Jess Hill and UNSW Professor of Criminology Michael Salter addressed parliamentarians and community organisations on their White Paper, ‘Rethinking Primary Prevention’, at Parliament House in Canberra. The briefing highlighted why governments must act on commercial drivers of men’s violence, including alcohol and gambling, as one part of the strategy to protect women and children.

May 29, 2024

Community organisations and researchers gathered in Perth to discuss the policy responses needed to address alcohol’s role in violence. The discussion focused on a review study, led by Dr Ingrid Wilson, which found men’s high-risk alcohol use contributes to violence yet interventions to target these harms are scarce.

May 28, 2024

The Federal Government appointed an expert panel to conduct a rapid review into how to prevent men’s violence against women and children.

May 9, 2024

Following the roundtable, the Commissioner drew a link between alcohol and family violence - and implored Premiers and Chief Ministers to consider better regulating.

May 7, 2024

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined 70 experts from across the country at the Crisis Talks Into Missing and Murdered Women, convened by Domestic Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin.

May 2, 2024

Media coverage the day after National Cabinet highlights the action that's required on alcohol to curb rates of family violence.

May 1, 2024

FARE responds to National Cabinet's decision to overlook alcohol's role in family violence.

May 1, 2024

National Cabinet meets and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces a suite of measures that do not include any mention of meaningful reform on the commercial determinants of family violence, including alcohol and gambling.

April 30, 2024

Dozens of community, health and Aboriginal organisations join FARE in signing an open letter to National Cabinet, calling for immediate action on better alcohol regulation to reduce rates of men's violence against women and children.

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