- Strelley near Port Hedland votes to become a dry community for the first time
- This brings the total number of dry communities in WA to 30
- Spinifex in the Goldfields renews its alcohol ban for a further 10 years
For the first time, the Aboriginal community of Strelley, in the Pilbara, has decided to ban alcohol to reduce harm to its residents and provide a place for healing.
The new dry community, which lies about 40 kilometres east of Port Hedland, voted to implement the restrictions for an initial five years, until June 2029, to ensure the safety and welfare of community members and students at the local school.
The addition of Strelley brings the total number of dry communities in Western Australia to 30.
The Aboriginal community Tjuntjuntjara (Spinifex) in the Goldfields has renewed its alcohol ban for a further 10 years, until July 2034. This community is located in the Great Victoria Desert, 690 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie.
The bans are allowed under Section 175 of the Liquor Control Act which prohibits a person from bringing into, buying, possessing or consuming liquor in the restricted area. Fines for breaching the regulations are $5,000 for licensees, managers of licensed premises and directors of a body corporate, and $2,000 for others.
While approved by the Racing and Gaming Minister, the bans are usually a result of requests from local Aboriginal communities and involve extensive consultation with community, police, local government and other relevant stakeholders.
The regulations also authorise the police to seize and dispose of opened or unopened containers of liquor suspected of being brought into the dry communities.
Information about Section 175 liquor restrictions can be found on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) website:
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia:
“I commend these Aboriginal communities for showing strong leadership and for their commitment to protecting residents from alcohol-related harm.
“These bans will greatly assist in creating a safe environment for members of these communities by preventing alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour, violence and crime.
“Liquor bans have resulted in positive outcomes for many remote and regional parts of Western Australia and reducing alcohol-related harm remains a priority for the Cook Government.”
