Sydney discusses alcohol fuelled-violence

18 Jul 2012, 4:00 pm   -   Source: AAP
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About 600 people have packed Sydney's Town Hall to talk about violence in Kings Cross.

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A family friend of slain teenager Thomas Kelly says young people's attitude towards alcohol is the cause of violence on the streets of Sydney's Kings Cross.

David Antsee says he and Thomas' father Ralph have spoken since the teenager's death earlier this month of having often frequented the notorious nightspot in their own youth.

"Ralph and I talked about walking up and down those streets when we were 18 and actually feeling safe," an emotional Mr Antsee told a forum discussing violence in Kings Cross on Tuesday night.

"But Tom only got two minutes at it."

"Why (Thomas' death) has happened, we don't know the full answer but the statistics show the alcohol issue is a key driver."

Mr Antsee asked the forum's panel, which included Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and local federal MP Malcolm Turnbull, whether governments should support a campaign aimed at altering young people's risky attitude towards going out.

"(That) it's cool to go out and do drugs all night ... that it's uncool not to club until 4am," he said.

The forum was arranged after Thomas, 18, was king-hit in an unprovoked attack while walking along a footpath on his first visit to the infamous strip on July 7.

His life support was switched off two days later.

Alcohol and drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour was a recurring theme throughout the night as Kings Cross residents and business owners voiced their concerns.

NSW Hospitality Minister George Souris said his government would take immediate action beginning with a compliance audit of all pubs, clubs and bars in Kings Cross.

Mr Souris also said the government would create a plan of management for the area.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said the violence in Kings Cross and elsewhere in the state is mostly being caused by alcohol.

"It's the abuse and availability of alcohol," he said.

"Drugs are not the problem in Kings Cross, alcohol is the problem."

Ms Moore said one of the main issues in the area was the concentration of licensed venues.

"The city has tried to prevent the proliferation of licensed premises," she said.

"Our biggest problem is lack of power to say to developers because the area is at capacity in terms of venues and late night trading."

Ms Moore called on the state government to change laws to address policing, transport and licensing laws.

Mr Turnbull also said the concentration of late trading bars and lack of public transport was a major problem.

"If you wanted to attract large numbers of drunk people to one location, the conditions in Kings Cross are ideal," Mr Turnbull said.

"It's clearly nuts to have venues trading, people up there drinking until three or four in the morning and having the last train ending at a quarter to two."

The panellists offered their condolences to the Kelly family. A memorial for Thomas will be held at The King's School in Parramatta on Friday.

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Your Comments

It's not just the violence!

Mick Lowrie - from Sydney, 10 months ago

I dream of the day where the city is filled with laughter and every face is marked with a smile. Let the streets be filled with happy, crazy people. But crazy from happiness, not from alcohol. Genuinely fun people don't need alcohol. Only miserable people need alcohol to have fun. We have to find a way to fix these miserable people who can't associate fun without alcohol.

Not just the booze

Ben - from Japan, 10 months ago

I have lived in Japan for past 4 years in a prefecture (state) notorious for its drinking culture. Alcoholism is a problem here, yet alcohol fueled violence is not. Drinking and especially binge drinking are the norm here yet violent incidences are incredibly rare. Interesting isn't it?

Kings Cross issues

mary goodwind - from katherine nt , 10 months ago

Why all the excusses bring in the intervention, if its good enough for the Aboriginal people of this country then it's good enough for the people of sydney. Grog and drugs have destoryed so many families youths and society. its time to deal with these issues openly and honestly because we are all suffering.

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