The South Australian Government has left women and children living in violence waiting, despite Premier Peter Malinauskas committing to swift action on alcohol delivery laws.
In December, Premier Malinauskas accepted recommendations from the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence to address un-regulated alcohol delivery and reduce harm to women and children.
He committed to introduce legislation “immediately upon the Parliament sitting post the election.”
Royal Commission recommendation 128 mirrored other expert reviews, calling for:
- A 2-hour safety pause between order and delivery,
- Amending delivery times to be between 10am – 10pm,
- Making harm minimisation the paramount object of the Liquor Act.
A Bill to update liquor laws and implement these measures was consulted on in 2024 and sat ready to table in Parliament for one year.
However, survivor advocates and community organisations hold grave concerns because of the government’s lack of action and multiple new comments from within Cabinet that the Bill will be re-written and re-opened for consultation.
FARE CEO Ayla Chorley said, “The new Minister has confirmed there will be a new bill, and consultation will be re-opened. Failing to expedite this process is a broken promise to women and children in South Australia experiencing violence,”
“Extensive consultation on this Bill started in 2024 and completed in 2025. Following the Royal Commission, the Premier promised women and children it would be introduced immediately after the election.
“The evidence is clear, the recommendations have been accepted, and the Government has already committed to act. This is no longer a question of whether reform is needed. It is a question of whether the Government intends to honour the promise it made to women and children.
“Every day these reforms are delayed is another day South Australians remain exposed to preventable alcohol-related harm and violence.”
South Australian Survivor Advocate Stacey Nelan said, “As a person who has experienced domestic violence by a former partner who used alcohol excessively, I know that this Bill will save lives and reduce opportunities for harm in the home,”
“Why on earth the Premier is stalling on this matter when the immediate safety of women and children sits in a Bill already prepared to be tabled is beyond me. I know the alcohol industry is powerful, but we need a courageous Premier to stand with 50.7% of our population.
“This is not about eliminating alcohol delivery to the home, simply adding some very basic safeguards. Premier, the delay sends a very clear message that the safety of women and children in the home is not a priority for you and your government.
“You cannot bring back the 15 South Australian women murdered since we started this advocacy journey, but, imagine if, through your courage and commitment you could reduce the chances of so many more South Australian women and children coming to such horrific tragedy?”
Embolden CEO Mary Leaker said, “We have ample evidence that the harmful use of alcohol increases the frequency and severity of domestic, family and sexual violence,”
“The Royal Commission’s recommendations on alcohol regulation are common sense measures that will reduce harm and save lives.
“It is South Australians experiencing violence who will pay the price of further delays and watering down of recommended measures.”
FARE Lived Experience Advisor Kym Valentine said, “The government spent millions to learn how to prevent violence, now they have recommendations that can be implemented as a priority and they are ignoring them,”
“Re-writing this Bill will waste more time and money while people continue to live in violence worsened by un-regulated alcohol delivery.
“We know these measures will make a real difference. It’s a clear, evidence-based step to genuinely reduce harm to children experiencing violence.”
Lead Convenor of SAACCON and Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Partnership Committee to the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Scott Wilson, said he is appalled the Malinauskas Government is backpedalling on Recommendations from the Royal Commission.
“They stated when the report was released that they would implement in full Recommendation 128 of the Royal Commission calling on the Minister to progress the Liquor Licensing (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2025 (SA),” he said.
“It makes one wonder if the State Government is not going to do that, what other Recommendations contained in the Royal Commission will they drop quietly.”
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