The returned South Australian Labor Government has an opportunity to be among the first jurisdictions in the country to enact life-saving alcohol delivery laws, survivor advocates and health organisations say.
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), alongside South Australian Survivor Advocate Stacey Nelan, the South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS) and Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), congratulated the newly re-elected Malinauskas Government following their success in Saturday's election.
FARE CEO Ayla Chorley said she looked forward to working closely with the Malinauskas Government to progress vital reforms to alcohol delivery laws.
"The Premier's pre-election promise to prioritise these evidence-based reforms and get them to Parliament as soon as it resumes provides hope to women and children experiencing violence in the home," she said.
This comes as the latest ABS Recorded Crime Offenders data shows domestic, family and sexual violence is the only category of offending to increase nationally, rising by 8 per cent, in what is already one of the most under reported forms of violence.
In November, Premier Peter Malinauskas committed to progressing alcohol law reform "immediately upon the Parliament sitting post the election," reflecting the government's own position that preventing domestic, family and sexual violence requires action on enabling conditions, including a two-hour safety pause on alcohol delivery.
The SA Government consulted on a draft Bill in early 2025, that stands ready to be tabled in Parliament.
The Bill includes measures such as:
Introducing a 2-hour safety pause between order and delivery
Amending delivery times to be between 10am – 10pm,
Making harm minimisation the paramount object of the Liquor Act. (This would mean any government decisions relating to alcohol, such as approving liquor licences, must place the impact to community health and safety first, not industry profit.)
Each of these commonsense measures were explicitly recommended by the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual (DFSV) Violence. The Federal Government's expert-led Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches to end DFSV has made the same recommendations.
"With domestic and family violence the only crime increasing nationally, we cannot ignore what drives escalation. Alcohol is often part of the moment where things tip. A two hour safety pause can stop that moment becoming something far more dangerous." Ms Chorley said.
"The evidence is clear. Survivor Advocates experiences are clear. These measures will go a long way to preventing harm to women and children."
South Australian Survivor Advocate Stacey Nelan said, "The Bill with the measures we are seeking was drafted more than a year ago and has been sitting on someone's desk while four South Australian women were killed in the same period, and many others were injured, traumatised, hospitalised — with alcohol playing a role,"
"Multiple unexplained delays in progressing this reform have frustrated so many, but now the time has come for the Premier to act — dust off the Bill, do the right thing for the safety of women and children and follow through on your commitments. No more delays. No more excuses."
SANDAS CEO Fiona Endacott said, "As the peak body for alcohol and drug services in South Australia, we strongly support these evidence-based reforms targeting the enabling conditions for alcohol access,"
"The passage of these amendments positions our state to be among the first jurisdictions in the country to implement alcohol delivery measures that reduce harms associated with rapid delivery. We look forward to seeing this Bill tabled immediately and swift passage through Parliament."
ADF CEO Dr Erin Lalor AM said, "Introducing common-sense reforms around the online sale and delivery of alcohol, will help build healthier and safer communities across South Australia,"
"These reforms should have the urgent attention of all states and territories. The South Australian Government has an opportunity to show national leadership and pave the way for other jurisdictions to help prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms, including violence towards women and children."
