11. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
My question is to the Minister of Justice—[ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERThat is just not helpful. I have called Rahui Katene. She is at the back of the House. The front-bench Ministers should desist from their ongoing interjections about the last question. I say particularly to the Hon Trevor Mallard that that was not a helpful interjection that he made.
When will the Government put legislation in place to limit the number of alcohol outlets in poor communities and give communities a say as to whether they support having an alcohol outlet?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) Link to this
Allowing more local input into licensing decisions in all communities is one of the recommendations in the Law Commission’s report on alcohol. The Government is currently considering the report, and will respond to it within 120 days.
Is he aware that there are at least 15 liquor outlets in just three low-income suburbs in eastern Porirua and that if he walked from the first to the last one it would take only about 20 minutes; and does he see any problems with the fact that there are approximately 66 liquor outlets across the greater Porirua region?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I am aware that there is considerable discomfort in the community about the proliferation of liquor licence outlets. This is a matter that has been discussed in the Law Commission’s report. The Government is considering the Law Commission’s report and will respond within 120 days.
Does the Minister agree with the Law Commission that high-outlet density can contribute to the degradation of community well-being; if so, will he support a reduction of some 4,356 off-licence liquor stores currently located in communities across Aotearoa?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
There are a number of things, I am sure, in the 514 pages of the Law Commissions’ report that the Government would agree with. When the Government makes it response to the Law Commission’s report, those matters will be evident.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Does he agree with the Law Commission’s report that it is not only the number of licensed premises but the type of licence that is impacting on increased availability and massively reduced price; and is he concerned to learn that two supermarket chains are now supplying one-third of all beer and over half of all wine, forcing down prices even further?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
The Government will respond in due course, as has been said, to the recommendations in the Law Commission’s report. The matters that the member highlights are of concern to a number of people in this House.