Proposed Roper River grog ban upsets fishermen

A move by a Northern Territory Aboriginal community to extend a ban on alcohol across the Roper River area has incensed amateur fishermen.

If the Yugul Mangi Community Government Council succeeds with its application to extend the current alcohol ban, all visitors, including anglers and local pastoralists, would risk vehicle confiscation if caught with alcohol.

Warren De With, from the Northern Territory Amateur Fisherman's Association, says extending the boundaries of the grog restrictions will not solve the problem.

"Trying to ostracise and put the shutters up around their area and say all people who drink too much alcohol 'we don't want to talk to you' is wrong because they are their people and they should be taking responsibility of looking after them," he said.

"What I would like to see happen is the actual dry line taken across the Roper Bar closer to Ngukarr, where they can get help and they can be policed and they can be looked after by the community people."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 11 October 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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