Latest news with #AlcoholManagementPlan
ABC News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Police caution MP Nick Dametto for breaking alcohol rules in Aboriginal community
A Queensland MP who was photographed drinking full-strength beer while in a restricted alcohol zone in the Aboriginal community of Palm Island, has told parliament he was issued with a caution by Queensland Police. Nick Dametto, the Katter's Austraila Party (KAP) member for Hinchinbrook, shared photos on Facebook on Good Friday that showed him and friends on a beach on Curacao Island in North Queensland. The Island, about one kilometre from Great Palm Island, falls under an alcohol management plan, which prohibits full-strength beer from being brought to and consumed on 10 islands that collectively make up the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire. Mr Dametto posted photos of a day around islands in the Palm Island group. ( Supplied ) Mr Dametto told State Parliament he was unaware Curacao Island fell under the same regulations. The maximum amount of alcohol a person can carry in the restricted area is 11.25 litres of any liquor with an alcohol concentration of less than 4 per cent. The beer Mr Dametto was photographed drinking has an alcohol concentration of 4.2 per cent. "The incident was subsequently investigated by Queensland Police and, following the investigation, an adult caution was issued. I can advise the House that the matter is now finalised," Mr Dametto told State Parliament this morning. Former Palm Island Aboriginal Shire councillor Andrea Kyle-Sailor. ( Supplied ) Bwgcolman woman and former councillor Andrea Kyle-Sailor said in her experience it was rare for Palm Island residents to be cautioned over breaking alcohol management plan laws. "I was really disappointed that once again there appears to be these double standards and I would have hoped that the MP would have faced the consequences like we have to," she said. "The only time I've ever heard of a caution is for children, but I've never heard of it being done for adults — particularly for the AMP [Alcohol Management Plan]." Ms Kyle-Sailor said many years go her own aunty, who was 67-years-old, had to face court for breaking the restrictions. "No criminal history, had never been before the courts in her life and she wasn't afforded a caution," she said. "She had to face the Magistrates Court which was a bit embarrassing." The Palm Island group sits about 65 kilometres north of Townsville. ( ABC News: Baz Ruddick ) Ms Kyle-Sailor said she would like the government to review the alcohol management plan to see if it was necessary. She said she knew people who had lost their job, their blue card and even been imprisoned for breaking the restrictions. "There are serious consequences to this 'not so serious crime' so it just seems like a double standard," she said. "A caution is when the crime is not serious. Well, why are we continuing to go to court and being heavily fined?" The alcohol management plan on Palm Island is enforced by Queensland Police. ( ABC News: Baz Ruddick ) Fifteen local government areas across Queensland have alcohol restrictions with varying rules co-designed between the state government and the communities. Alcohol management plans are designed to target illicit alcohol and promote "a healthy culture and attitude" towards alcohol. When asked about the incident involving Mr Dametto, a spokesperson for Queensland Police said the investigation had been finalised. "Police have issued a 41-year-old Ingham man with an adult caution following investigations into an alleged breach of the Curacao Island alcohol management plan on April 18," the spokesperson said. Mr Dametto said he had no further comments to make.
7NEWS
22-04-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Nick Dametto risks fine over beer breach in Indigenous community with alcohol restrictions
A North Queensland politician could find himself in hot water over a cold beer in an Indigenous community with alcohol restrictions. Nick Dametto, the state member for Hinchinbrook, uploaded photos of himself enjoying Good Friday with friends on Curacoa Island, near Palm Island. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Queensland MP comes unstuck by his own social media post over a cold beer. In one picture, the Katter Party politician is seen holding a can of full-strength beer with an alcohol percentage of 4.2 per cent, while other people in the photos appear to be holding pre-mixed drinks. The controversial laws are enforced in remote and discrete Indigenous communities across Queensland, restricting or banning alcohol entirely. In the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire, people can only carry alcohol with a concentration of less than 4 per cent and are restricted to 11.25 litres per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft, regardless of the number of people in it. When contacted by 7NEWS, Dametto said he had made an 'honest mistake' and did not realise outskirt islands around Palm Island were included in the Alcohol Management Plan. 'I think this is a really good opportunity to turn this into an educational piece,' he said. 'I can understand why some people have become angry about this but, at the same time, there should be more signage on the islands.' The Hinchinbrook MP believed the restriction on full-strength alcohol was 'not well-known' and said the group had 'no more than about three drinks per person'. 'We were planning actually to be on Orpheus Island up until about lunchtime (and) unfortunately the weather was blowing a south-westerly, which made it very dangerous to anchor up there,' he told 7NEWS. 'We were only out there with a small amount of alcohol and enough food to keep us going for a couple of hours.' Andrea Kyle-Sailor, a former councillor who helps Palm Island residents facing court, including for breaking alcohol restrictions, believes Dametto's explanation does not pass the pub test. 'The excuse of honest mistake is not normally, well never, accepted by the magistrate for our people,' she said. 'I would have thought that the Member for Hinchinbrook would be aware of the alcohol restrictions.' $60,000 fine Kyle-Sailor said visitors to the shire should be aware of the rules, which were easily accessible on council and state government websites. 'It's all there at your fingertips - get on your phone, have a look, see what the restrictions are... take the time to have a look,' she said. She said people charged with possessing illegal alcohol in the restricted area were often fined a few hundred dollars for their first offence. The maximum penalty is currently $60,487. Dametto said he would 'take his poison' if he was fined but maintained his mistake should be turned into an education piece 'rather than trying to crucify someone at Easter'.
