Tougher rules to tackle SA's alcohol-fuelled violence
Codes of practice will be tightened for licensed venues in South Australia in a bid to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.
The Government is stepping up efforts in light of a death and other assaults.
Dutch man Henk van Oosterom died in hospital this week after he was bashed outside a Gawler hotel last weekend, allegedly while trying to intervene to stop a fight.
Three people are facing charges over the case, with police considering whether those charges should be upgraded.
In other violence, a 24-year-old man Jason Lindsley was critically injured outside an Adelaide nightclub, Zhivago, more than a week ago.
Also last month, Adelaide teenager Christopher Hatzis was stabbed to death at night in Light Square in the city.
SA Attorney-General John Rau said venues which breached new codes could expect to have their licences suspended.
"We're going to have two codes, one enhanced code for all liquor venues and a second one which will be for the late-night venues which will be a lot tighter," he said.
"Those codes, just so people understand, are in effect licence conditions for the licensees."
"If we can do something that will decrease the number of people we see who are injured and perhaps permanently damaged then that will be a good thing."
Dr Bill Griggs
The South Australian branch of the Australian Hotels Association said closing venues earlier was not the answer to reducing alcohol-fuelled violence, although Ian Horne conceded change was needed.
"The problem with cutting back everyone's hours is the tragic assault on Jason Lindsley that happened just last week happened at 9:30 at night," he said.
"Police have enormous powers now, the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner have enormous powers since 1997, they can actually change the licensing conditions and certain promotions, reduce hours, they simply haven't used them.
"We encourage them to use them."
Trauma specialist Dr Bill Griggs of the Royal Adelaide Hospital said it was evident alcohol was involved in many of the assault cases which presented.
"We need to try to do something to try and decrease that, now it may be something to do with looking at the pubs and clubs - that's a thing for the community - but if we can do something that will decrease the number of people we see who are injured and perhaps permanently damaged then that will be a good thing," he said.
