Senator hits out at ‘authoritarian’ summer booze ban
NSW Liberal Senator David Leyonhjelm says the Coogee summer alcohol ban, following mass littering on Christmas Day, points to a ‘failure of policing’.
Southern Courier
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SENATOR David Leyonhjelm has likened the Coogee alcohol ban — put in force to avoid litter — to banning dogs to “prevent crap on the footpath”.
“In my view the ban signifies a failure of both policy and policing,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
“It is authoritarian, in that it seeks to address a problem through prohibition. It’s comparable to banning dogs to prevent crap on the footpath.”
The ban was put in place for the whole summer following 15 tonnes of garbage being dumped on Coogee beach on Christmas Day.
“(The ban) is also a failure of policing, because it shows that the current laws regarding littering are not being enforced,” he said.
“The Council should be obliged to justify its heavy handed attitude given it its failure to deal with those who litter the beach.”
senator Leyonhjelm first voiced his discontent at the ban in a Tweet, posted on December 27. “Regulate, ban, prohibit. It’s a national obsession,” he wrote.
Regulate, ban, prohibit. It's a national obsession. https://t.co/1d4wSB2Yif
— David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) 27 December 2016
Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza confirmed the ban following the littering of parks and the beach itself on Christmas Day when 10,000 revellers turned up to party.
“The poor and inappropriate behaviour of a few on Christmas Day have forced council to introduce a total alcohol ban for the area for summer,” he said.
“The public outrage to the devastation of the parks and beach itself on Christmas Day has been quite phenomenal.
“It is disappointing we have to take such a strong stance, but we need to reassure the community that they can feel safe when visiting and enjoying the jewel in the crown of Randwick City, Coogee Beach.”
The alcohol ban — which was put in place on Thursday December 29 — applies to Coogee Beach and all nearby parks and reserves and will remain in place until the end of the summer.
It will be reviewed ahead of the 2017/2018 summer holidays.
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