A group of northern West Australian councils say a trial of the Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) has been ineffective in cracking down on problem drinking since its implementation nearly two years ago.
The Kimberley Regional Group, made up of the Shire of Broome, Derby West-Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham East-Kimberley, made the submission to the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries in October.
The submission comes after the WA government announced it sought to improve and strengthen the register in September, which has been running in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields since late 2020.
The register checks a person's identification before they purchase alcohol but at this stage, authorities do not have the power to put someone on the register as a part of bail or parole conditions, and police can't place a person on the list for alcohol-related offending.
In a summary of its key points tabled at a Broome council meeting, the Kimberley Regional Group said the register had been "ineffective".
"Only 83 people are on the banned list in the Kimberley, where is a population of 38,000 people," it said.
"Victims of family and domestic violence and child abuse remain at significant risk of alcohol-related harm … urgent legislative reform of the WA banned drinkers register is critical."
The submission said reforms should include mandating the register across all liquor outlets, giving police officers in charge of regional stations the power to put people on the register, and making it an offence for someone to buy alcohol for someone on the register.
Shire of Broome president Harold Tracey says he is concerned the current data will skew the results of the trial, which is due to end in 2025.
"We're fearful the trial will end and it'll be seen as a failure because we haven't been able to put problem drinkers on the register," he said.
"I have been assured that that'll be taken into consideration … so it's about how the state takes those submissions and gets some legislation as quick as they can through."
He said groups across the Kimberley were calling for the register to change.
The submission was also informed by the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agency, and aimed to highlight the need for wrap-around services to support the BDR.
"Critical to the reform process is the need to review the level of support services for alcohol dependency that are currently available in the Kimberley," it said.
