The newly formed Indigenous Implementation Board has stated its position on the issue of forced liquor bans for the first time, warning prohibition alone is doomed to fail.
The board, which was formed last year to tackle Aboriginal disadvantage, believes bans are needed in the short-term, but do not offer a lasting solution.
It is concerned they are being introduced across Western Australia without sufficient spending on support services to ease people out of addiction and help communities rebuild.
Board chairman Lieutenant General John Sanderson says while there is evidence the bans bring immediate improvements, that is not enough.
“The board is of the view that they won’t be long-lasting without the other additional assistance that the community needs,” he said.
“The guts of this is, we know of no case where prohibition per say has worked in the long-term.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Mental Health, Graham Jacobs, is touring the Kimberley to determine what mental health services are needed in the wake of alcohol restrictions being introduced across the region.
Dr Jacobs spent yesterday meeting community leaders in Kununurra, the Ord Valley and Wyndham to discuss what drug and alcohol support services are required.
The issue of suicide prevention is also on the agenda, after a recent increase in the number of suicides in the Kimberley.
Dr Jacobs says it is closely linked to alcohol abuse.
“Everywhere I go, I get a message from the communities, about, ‘Minister, if there’s anything you can do about the culture of alcohol excess could you please be part of that?’” he said.
“Drug and alcohol workers are telling me, if we can reduce the impact of drugs and alcohol on families, then we can start to work better.”