Push for law reform on ‘very destructive’ sly grog scourge

Disturbing reports of bootleg booze being returned to Cape York sly grog runners and a justice system not supporting effective enforcement of prohibition has been raised by remote leaders.

Sly grog seized by police in the remote Cape York town of Kowanyama.

Disturbing reports of alcohol being returned to Cape York by sly grog runners and a justice system not supporting effective enforcement of prohibition has been raised by remote leaders.

Cape York and Gulf indigenous communities make up the majority of the 15 local government areas across Queensland which are either dry communities or restrict the possession of alcohol to one carton of light or mid-strength beer or one bottle of non-fortified wine.

An example of a sly grog haul seized by police.

Extreme mark ups mean a bottle of rum can fetch up to $500 at the northern most Cape towns — and leaders say the trade is thriving.

The issue has become so bad recently in Lockhart River that dedicated sly grog detection technology will soon be in use funded by the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said hi-tech cameras mounted on an all-terrain double axel trailer meant the device could be towed into position to monitor passing vehicles.

“It’s one of these flash ones that can get the ID of the registration plates,” he said.

“We have a lot of people selling alcohol on the back market, it’s a big challenge for us at the moment and we are trying to find ways to slow down the influx of 5lt wine casks into the community.

The new sly grog surveillance system that will soon operate in the eastern Cape town of Lockhart River. Picture: Supplied

“We will never stop if but if we can slow it down it will be good.”

In 2017 is was reported that some illicit suppliers watch police officers and use decoy vehicles and false reports of suicides or accidents to divert police resources.

The aim of alcohol bans and restrictions in Cape York Aboriginal communities is to reduce alcohol-related harm, especially to children, women and other vulnerable community members.

The Cape York leader who grew up in Lockhart River said there was a clear link between violence and alcohol entering the tiny eastern Cape town of 640 people.

He said it was heartbreaking to see his community torn apart by booze.

“It’s very destructive, you get a spike in DV and it’s not good for the future of the community,” he said.

Mayor Wayne Butcher enjoys a drink with Lockhart River locals at the social club. Picture: supplied.

“We have to get that generational change, alcohol has a history of destruction.

“It’s local people doing it on local people, everyone knows how destructive it is, it’s almost like a bad habit.”

A bad habit that has been difficult to stamp out, it’s claimed, due to loopholes in the justice system that has meant seized illicit grog has been handed back to the very people smuggling it in.

“The judiciary system does not support law and order on this issue, we have to talk to the Attorney-General,” he said.

It’s well-known that penalties for sly grog runners can often be similar to those caught with illicit booze for personal use.

Lockhart River is a small indigenous town located 520km north of Cairns on Cape York in Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

In 2022 after a 14-year period of prohibition the Lockhart River Social Club opened with a plan to turnaround negative drinking habits.

To enter the $2m purpose-built tavern style club, drinkers must have a zero alcohol blood level and the bar served light and mid-strength beer four nights a week.

However, the social club has been ineffective in stopping people often spending their entire fortnightly Centrelink benefit on illicit booze.

In 2017 James Cook University professor Alan Clough published a groundbreaking study on sly grog and home-brew use in remote indigenous communities.

Lockhart River was a particular focus of the research that interviewed more than 380 people.

He said prohibition was not the answer.

“Enforcement is never the answer, you have to have a collaborative health approach,” he said.

“It’s has never worked anywhere but quite a long time ago the horse bolted on people drinking responsibly.”

ATTORNEY-GENERAL RESPONSE TO CONCERN

THE Queensland Attorney-General has addressed concern arising from a recent spike in black market liquor entering Cape York communities.

Yvette D’Ath said the Miles Government took the issue of sly grogging or the sale of alcohol without a licence “incredibly seriously.”

“Councils are always welcome to discuss with my office and Department of Justice and Attorney-General, any concerns they have or proposals to make our communities safer,” she said.

“Queensland has some of the country’s toughest laws around the sale and distribution of illegal alcohol products, with offenders facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison or a fine of $116,100, while vehicles used for smuggling can be confiscated.”

However to stamp out the illicit booze trade experts agree controls must also go hand-in-hand with initiatives that address the demand for alcohol and the broad social factors driving alcohol misuse. Anyone with knowledge of the sale and distribution of sly grog should contact police or the Sly Grog Hotline on 1800 500 815.

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Originally published as Push for law reform on ‘very destructive’ sly grog scourge