Hundreds of impoverished indigenous people in remote communities have been hit with fines totalling nearly $600,000 for breaking Queensland’s controversial alcohol management laws.

From the Courier Mail 8/2/07 full story – Fines cripple disadvantaged

“Reports of the penalty tally was greeted with dismay by Aboriginal leaders who said most people could not pay the fines and the AMPs were not working to curb violence.

Townsville-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Legal Service chief executive Randal Ross said the AMPs – which stipulate dry areas within communities and limit the amount of alcohol people can take into a restricted area – were compounding the criminalisation of Aboriginal people.”