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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.
The rapid rise of alcohol sold online and delivered into the home has massively increased availability.
Research shows alcohol delivery is used to extend drinking sessions. When alcohol can be delivered within 20 minutes – at any time of the day or night – without checks and balances, it puts families at greater risk of violence.
Some jurisdictions have taken the first steps towards reducing harm.
It’s time for the rest of the country to follow suit.
There are no specific regulations for the online sale and delivery of alcohol in the ACT.
The NSW government implemented some reforms in 2020. These included mandatory ID checks when buying alcohol online and when it is delivered, mandatory responsible service of alcohol training specific to delivery and making it an offence to sell online or deliver alcohol to people under 18 or to people who are intoxicated.
However, alcohol deliveries can occur late into the night up to midnight most nights of the week.
In 2019, the NT government implemented several reforms, following a review of alcohol laws in 2017.
Current measures in place include limits on late night delivery and required ID checks when delivering alcohol. The government has also made it an offence to deliver alcohol to anyone under 18, people who are intoxicated, or to leave a delivery unattended.
However, there are several areas where change is still needed in requirements to check ID when ordering alcohol online.
There are no specific regulations for the online sale and delivery of alcohol in Queensland.
The state government introduced some reforms in 2018 including making it an offence to deliver alcohol to people aged under 18, or people who are intoxicated and requiring ID checks for delivery.
However, there are several areas where change is still needed in requirements to check ID when ordering alcohol online.
In December 2024, the state government released the draft Liquor Licensing (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2024 which includes clear primary objectives to prevent gendered violence, limits alcohol delivery between 10am – 10pm and introduces a 2-hour safety pause between ordering and receiving alcohol.
There are almost no specific regulations of the online sale and delivery of alcohol in Tasmania. However, it is an offence to deliver alcohol to anyone under 18.
In 2021, the state government introduced several reforms including mandatory ID checks when delivering alcohol and the introduction of a licence specific to online sale and delivery, which delivery providers must obtain. It is also an offence to deliver or sell alcohol online to anyone under 18, to people who are intoxicated, or to leave deliveries unattended.
The WA government introduced some protections in 2022, including mandatory ID checks when delivering alcohol and making it an offence to deliver alcohol to anyone who is under 18 to people who are intoxicated, or to leave deliveries unattended.
However, there are several areas where change is still needed in requirements to check ID when ordering alcohol online.
Together, we’re calling for governments to prioritise our community’s safety and wellbeing over industry profits.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Rapid Review Expert Panel released their report, which included recommendations relating to addressing alcohol, to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Survivor Advocate Kym Valentine and FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined the ABC’s Conversation Hour to discuss alcohol’s role in violence.
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.
Domestic violence support services braced themselves for a surge of calls on State of Origin game night, sparking a raft of media coverage.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
The Federal Government appointed an expert panel to conduct a rapid review into how to prevent men’s violence against women and children.
Following the roundtable, the Commissioner drew a link between alcohol and family violence - and implored Premiers and Chief Ministers to consider better regulating.
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.
Media coverage the day after National Cabinet highlights the action that's required on alcohol to curb rates of family violence.
FARE responds to National Cabinet's decision to overlook alcohol's role in family violence.
Alcohol wasn't mentioned once - not even once.
— FARE (@FAREAustralia) May 1, 2024
As PM Anthony Albanese addressed the country on the steps National Cabinet agreed to take to combat gender-based violence, alcohol's role in fuelling violence against women and children was again ignored.
The silence was deafening. pic.twitter.com/46sJAY8azv
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.
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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FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
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FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
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