One-punch alcohol laws pass in NSW Lower House and head to Legislative Council
Updated
Legislation to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, including a controversial law for deadly one-punch assaults, has swiftly passed the New South Wales Parliament's Lower House.
Debate has now begun in the Upper House.
Among the initiatives is a plan for mandatory eight-year prison terms for anyone who fatally punches someone while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The legislation also includes a new precinct in central Sydney where bars and clubs will be subject to strict new conditions, including lock-outs.
The Government announced the measures last week, in response to pressure over the death of Daniel Christie from a single punch at Kings Cross.
The measures include: Eight-year minimum sentencing for alcohol or drug-fuelled assaults ending in death.
Serious assault maximum penalty increased by two years, with mandatory minimum sentences.
On the spot fines for disorderly behaviour increased from $200 to $1,100.
Police have powers to immediately ban 'troublemakers' from CBD/Kings Cross.
Penalty for possession of steroids increased from two to 25 years.
CBD/Kings Cross venues to have 1:30am lockouts with drinks stopping at 3:00am.
Bottle shops across NSW to close at 10:00pm.
Politicians were forced to cancel their holidays for the special sitting of State Parliament.
Premier Barry O'Farrell told Parliament during the debate that action is needed because the courts have not been prepared to hand out the sentences that people expect.
"Much of this is indeed pioneering legislation," he said.
"It has to be to address an issue that, if the status quo was to remain, would continue to see too many innocent victims either killed or seriously injured.
"If we have to come back and revisit this, if we have to fine tune, we will because we are determined to put in place an effective regime."
Labor supports legislation, sight unseen
The Opposition voted with the Government in the Lower House, despite several Labor MPs raising concerns about mandatory sentencing.
Labor's support will also give the Government the required numbers in the Upper House.
Before the debate began Opposition Leader John Robertson complained that he had not seen any details of the legislation.
"We will support the Government's one-punch laws. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do something about alcohol-fuelled violence," Mr Robertson said.
"We haven't seen the legislation on all those other issues. We're awaiting the detail of all that.
"I have to say it's very disappointing that we're still waiting, on such an important issue, to see the legislation the Government will introduce."
Greens MP John Kaye says the measures are a "knee-jerk" reaction and the party will vote against them.
"We don't believe there's evidence to justify what they're doing," he said.
"We don't believe we can justify imposing on responsible late night venue goers measures that are probably going to fail."
The Greens believe the real issues are being ignored.
"The dangerous promotions of deep discounting of alcohol, the failure to enforce responsible service of alcohol in venues and excessive liquor outlet density," Dr Kaye said.
The Premier said yesterday that he wanted the legislation passed by Friday.
"We're in the hands of the Legislative Council, but my message to all members of the Legislative Council is that the community's demanded tough action," Mr O'Farrell said.
"These are tough measures and I would encourage them to give them the priority that they deserve.
"We want to have, in particular, the one-punch, the death by assault legislation, in place and operational by this weekend."
Other laws for serious violent assaults are set to be looked at next month.
Meanwhile commercial television networks have begun broadcasting a campaign against one-punch assaults funded by professional boxer Danny Green.
The State Government struck a deal with the seven networks to show the ad depicting Green intervening before one man punches another.
It will air until the Government's own community awareness and media campaigns begin.
Green paid for the advertisement out of his own pocket two years ago, after a fatal assault in his hometown of Perth.
Topics: states-and-territories, state-parliament, alcohol, sydney-2000
First posted
Thursday morning, members of the  of New South Wales, Australia, discussed drafts of two bills relating to liquor intoxication assault crimes starting at 10 o'clock in the morning (; 2100 ), and approved them later during the day: the Lower House approved at midday and the Upper House at 7pm. The new legislation imposes harsher penalties on behaviour under alcohol influence, and a set of other restrictions in the Sydney central business district (CBD).

The full formal names of the bills are ''Liquor Amendment Bill 2014'' and ''Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014''. The latter was , while the former was still pending assent from the . The bills were . The latter formally commenced on Thursday except for Schedule 5, maximum fines changes, subject to commence on a day appointed by .
Parliament House, Sydney, New South Wales.  
The  said they would support the legislation before they saw it, citing support of any progress on such laws. The opposition leader, , said "We will support the Government's one-punch laws. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do something about alcohol-fuelled violence."

The parties, while actively discussing the draft, did not support amendments raised during the discussion and the bill passed more quickly than usual, on the same day. However,   (MP)  didn't support the bills, naming some issues he didn't expect the bill to address but found more important, such as "the dangerous promotions of deep discounting of alcohol, the failure to enforce responsible service of alcohol in venues and excessive liquor outlet density".

One provision defined a new offense, assault causing death while intoxicated — by alcohol or other drugs — with an eight-year . The  fines for misconduct and swearing in public were raised from 200 and $150 to $500, while the maximum fine for "continuation of intoxicated and disorderly behaviour following move on direction"  — direction "to leave a public place and not return for a specified period" — was increased from 6  ($660) to 15 penalty units ($1,650).

The legislation also restricted sales of alcohol from bottle shops in the CBD until 10pm instead of midnight.

The bill was drafted in response to death of 18-year-old teenager named Daniel Christie on January 11, following eleven days in hospital after allegedly being punched by drunk Shaun McNeil, 25, at . He allegedly also attacked Daniel's brother, Peter; McNeil's court case has been adjourned until March.


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