Don't Blame The Hotels

Sun Herald

Sunday March 16, 2008

By Lisa Carty State Political Reporter

HOMES are more dangerous than hotels when it comes to alcohol-related violence, new pubs boss Sally Fielke says.

The 33-year-old, who took over from 68-year-old Brian Ross as chief executive officer of the NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) last week, said pubs were unfairly blamed for too many evils.

In her first interview, Ms Fielke told The Sun-Herald that crime statistics showed 51 per cent of alcohol-related violence occurred in homes.

"Alcohol and violence is a problem in our community, but it's not just happening on licensed premises," Ms Fielke said.

"What concerns me is this great little finger-pointing, blame-game going on, putting it all on licensees.

"Twenty-one per cent of alcohol-related violence is happening in parks and other premises, which ties in with underage binge drinking.

"They're not on our premises, because they're not allowed in. Youth binge drinking is happening in the parks or at family barbecues - we're getting a bad rap on that side of things. We have to work on how we can better provide patron safety in our premises."

Ms Fielke said police statistics showed the trouble came from just 12 per cent of venues. "We should look at what we can do to reduce that statistic, but let's give some credit to the 88 per cent who are doing OK," she said.

"Eighty-eight per cent of our venues are sociable environments where you should feel safe.

"Where we're falling down, we have to look at ways to fix that."

Ms Fielke said education and lateral thinking were the keys to addressing concerns about pubs.

"The knee-jerk, Band-Aid approach of closing pubs or reducing trading hours is short-sighted - when pubs closed at 6pm we had the six o'clock swill."

Disbursing departing patrons at close of trading was an issue which needed good management, Ms Fielke said.

Darwin publicans had successfully trialled a system which involved publicans paying for security guards at convenient taxi ranks to alleviate the drivers' anxiety.

"Sometimes it just takes a bit of lateral thinking, and these things need to be considered on a case-by-case basis," she said.

"There are plenty of venues where they're not bothering anyone."

Ms Fielke said pubs played a positive role in their communities but had failed to really let people know the extent of their contribution.

"Pubs are completely underrated and that's one of the things I will be working on," she said.

Pubs were doing all the things for which clubs got credit, such as sponsoring junior sporting teams and supporting charities. "I think we have to get that message out more strongly."

Pubs made a significant contribution to the NSW economy, employing 200,000 people, she said.

Ms Fielke was born and bred in rural South Australia and drank her first alcoholic beverage - a beer - at the only pub in her home town of Loxton. Now a dedicated beer drinker - favouring midstrength - the former state hockey player runs to keep fit.

She started working part-time for the Northern Territory AHA while studying law in Darwin, and later became its CEO at 29.

She was the first woman to head an AHA branch.

Ms Fielke has also studied Chinese law in Shanghai, Jewish law in Israel, and Indonesian law in Sumatra and West Timor.

Editorial: Page 70

Tell us what you think

Are homes more dangerous than hotels? lcarty@fairfax.com.au

© 2008 Sun Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home