Hello once again to everyone who has signed the: Introduce Secondary Supply Laws in WA’s petition, I, like many others, am wondering why the Western Australian Government is taking so long to put in place the WA Liquor Control Act 1988 - Review Committee’s recommendations for secondary supply legislation. Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan today discussed this very issue on ABC Radio 720 am. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-02/police-commissioner-frustrated-by-liquor-reform-pace/5713374 Minister Waldron replied saying that “hopefully” it will be at Cabinet before the end of the year. It has been nine months since the Liquor Review Committee handed down its findings. I do understand that the legislative process takes time but I think we need a stronger commitment from Minister Waldron on this process and not a “hopefully”. Today I thought I would share a true story about the reason why WA needs to come into line with the five other jurisdictions in Australia who already have secondary supply legislation. Leigh Clark died in 1999 aged 15 years of age from a massive alcohol overdose. A parent supplied the alcohol without the permission from Leigh’s parents. Leigh passed away later that night 300 meters from where he was last seen attempting to walk home. Leigh’s father Bruce spent 12 years lobbying the Victorian Government to introduce secondary supply legislation and he is watching WA with great interest. This is a campaign that must spread to SA and the ACT. The Leigh Clark Foundation website sums up our outdated Liquor laws: • These outdated laws encourage a mindset that if it is legal then it must be OK. • These outdated laws erode parental responsibility. • These outdated laws serve only to protect the unscrupulous and irresponsible. • These outdated laws do nothing to protect your children. • These outdated laws are out of step with laws in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Victoria. http://www.leighclarkfoundation.com.au Please feel free to write to Minister Waldron about introducing this legislation as soon as possible. I have drafted a letter you may use in an email to the Minister - Minister.Waldron@dpc.wa.gov.au Dear Minister Waldron, I am writing in regards to introducing secondary supply legislation as soon as possible to Western Australia. The WA Liquor Control Act 1988 Review Committee recommended these laws back in January 2014 after a lengthy review process. We cannot ignore the harm the supply of alcohol to young people is doing in our community. Recent news this week highlighted that ambulance officers attend to 35 minors every month in WA because of excessive alcohol consumption. Some of them are twelve years of age. I am asking you to please consider introducing these laws, as a priority, as soon as possible, before a young person loses their life from unauthorised alcohol supply. Yours Faithfully, ---------------------------------- Updates are posted on the Introduce Secondary Supply Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IntroduceSecondarySupplyLawsInWa Yours Sincerely, Samantha Menezes