A far north Queensland MP says he disputes one of the findings of a Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) report into policing in Indigenous communities.
The CMC report found there was no clear evidence that alcohol restrictions and management plans had reduced the rates of violence in the communities.
The member for Cook, Jason O’Brien, says alcohol management plans are not the only solution for reducing violence, but they have helped.
“The most up to date data shows that there has been some significant improvement in some communities in reducing alcohol related violence in places like Aurukun and Kowanyama in particular,” he said.
“So I do dispute that these communities are not better places and less violence places.”
Mr O’Brien says he will continue working with communities.
“I’m happy… to keep reviewing these alcohol management plans and making them more effective and introducing other strategies as well, but we simply cannot go back to the bad old days where communities are simply awash with grog,” he said.