The AHA National president is driving the South Australian government to do more to address the scourge of violent gang crime and attacks targeting Adelaide pubs.
State and national president David Basheer addressed a crowd that included both State Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia, at his popular pre-Christmas lunch on Tuesday.
Basheer relayed that crime and anti-social behaviour was having “a devastating impact” on hoteliers and their staff, in what amounted to a challenge ahead of the state election in March next year.
Confronting footage was shown of violent attacks by recidivist gang criminals on pubs and staff (below).
The AHA president made particular mention of the issue of ‘softer’ sentencing, and while not specifying the actual venue referred to a recent case where an offender assaulted multiple staff and caused extensive damage, even yelling death threats, but received a suspended sentence.
The assailant had reportedly entered and screamed ‘There is going to be violence. You are all going to die here today’.
“Place yourself in the shoes of the staff who have just been told: ‘You are all going to die here today’,” suggested Basheer.
In an October letter to The Advertiser awarded hotelier and former president Peter Hurley AO lamented a suspended sentence handed to the man facing charges after being accused of assaulting three hotel employees and causing more than $80k damage to gaming machines. He believes the outcome “falls well short” of what community expects in such cases.
Basheer, whose family operates three pubs, offered there was no criticism of police and the role of the courts, but declares the community had “understandable questions” about the light sentences being seen, adding that it was not a new problem but one that had built up “over a generation”.
There are liquor restrictions imposed in the Adelaide CBD and four regional areas across the state.
Criticism of these is that they are costly and unwieldy, and most importantly that they are not long-term solutions, with significant evidence finding the restrictions simply move the problem, such as demand in the city spilling problems into the suburbs.
It has resulted in suburban pubs, particularly those close to public transport, targeted by organised and dangerous individuals and gangs, often known repeat offenders, who threaten, damage property and steal with little regard for consequences, “because too often, there aren’t any” offers Basheer.
Although the incumbent Labor Premier did not respond to the challenge on crime, he did announce $10 million in additional funding to boost hospitality, earmarked for attracting more business events and conferences.
The opposition leader, Mr Tarzia, reiterated his tough-on-crime platform, promising a ‘one-strike rule’ for serious offenders breaching bail.
In his address, Basheer proffered a policy of mandatory jail terms for repeated offenders was ‘critical’, while also calling for government to co-fund security and staff training (up to $20k) and more focus on addressing the core issue, with greater consideration for victims.
“From our perspective behind the bar and bottle-shop counter, the status quo has failed,” he said.
“We are tired of being targeted by the same criminals.”
