First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing welcomes the decriminalisation of public drunkenness in Victoria.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing congratulate the Andrews Government on the decriminalisation of public drunkenness and instead replacing it with a health-based response.
In response to this landmark law reform, Chief Executive Officer Karinda Taylor said, “Statistically Aboriginal people are less likely to drink than the broader population and the criminalisation of alcohol intoxication has been used to target Aboriginal people disproportionately. An investment in a health response will instead address the issues that underpin why people drink to excess.”.
“Alcohol intoxication is a public health issue and peoples’ health should be the primary concern when people have consumed too much. Many people who use alcohol often do so in the context of social disadvantage, intergenerational trauma and mental health challenges and this is where interventions should be targeted.” – Dr Peter Walsh, Medical Director at
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing would like to acknowledge the family of Tanya Day for their continued strength, resilience and advocacy in this space.
For media enquires: Karinda Taylor Chief Executive Officer karinda.taylor@fphw.org.au