Oral submission to the Inquiry into the Decriminalisation of Certain Public Offences, and Health and Welfare Responses

On 24 June 2022 the Legislative Assembly referred to the Community Support and Services Committee an inquiry into decriminalising public intoxication and begging offences, and health and social welfare-based responses.

The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows:

changes to legislation and operational policing responses to decriminalise the public intoxication and begging offences in the Summary Offences Act 2005
the compatibility of proposed legislative amendments, and health and social welfare-based service delivery responses to public intoxication and begging, with rights protected under the Human Rights Act 2019
the costs and benefits of responses to public intoxication and begging in other Australian jurisdictions
the health and social welfare-based responses to public intoxication and begging necessary to support legislative amendments, having regard to existing responses, such as diversion services
the impacts of decriminalising public intoxication and begging in rural and remote communities
the design of health and social welfare-based responses that are culturally safe and appropriate and informed by First Nations people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and legal services and also representative bodies for seniors and people with a disability
the appropriateness of other police powers and offences to ensure community safety and public order arising from public intoxication and begging, particularly in the context of events where there may be significant alcohol consumption
how existing public messaging on the harm of alcohol and other drugs, including alcohol-related violence, can continue to be reinforced following the decriminalisation of public intoxication, and
the appropriateness of repealing the ‘Urinating in a public place’ offence under the Summary Offences Act 2005.