The implications of a harm perspective on terrorism, road safety, tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and workplace health and safety

Prenzler, Tim; Manning, Matt; Bates, Lyndel · 2015 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1080/18335330.2015.1090050

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Summary

This policy paper examines the inconsistencies in Australian crime prevention and security policies by applying a "harm perspective" to four distinct areas: terrorism, road safety, drug use, and workplace health and safety. Motivated by the escalation of counter-terrorism measures in Australia during 2014–2015, the authors argue that resource allocation and regulatory intensity are often misaligned with the actual scale of harm caused by different activities. The study aims to demonstrate that while terrorism receives "heavy" law enforcement and significant financial investment, other areas causing vastly greater human and economic damage are subject to "light" regulation. The authors analyze data from the post-9/11 period (primarily 2002–2013) using official Australian statistics and international comparative data. They compare the outcomes of Australia’s counter-terrorism strategies against the ongoing harms associated with traffic crashes, tobacco and alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, and workplace violations. The analysis highlights the disparity between the financial costs of enforcement and the resulting reduction in fatalities, injuries, and economic loss across these sectors. The findings reveal a stark contrast in outcomes relative to regulatory effort. Australia’s counter-terrorism strategy was highly successful, resulting in zero fatalities or injuries from terrorist attacks on Australian soil during the review period, despite expenditures of approximately $6.3 billion. Conversely, "lightly" regulated areas produced massive harms: road crashes caused 16,348 deaths and an estimated $196.3 billion in costs; tobacco resulted in 165,550 deaths and $346.3 billion in costs; alcohol caused 38,434 deaths and $168.5 billion in costs; and workplace incidents led to 28,600 fatalities and $666.6 billion in costs. Illicit drugs, despite "heavy" policing, accounted for significantly fewer deaths (9,592) and lower costs ($90.1 billion) than legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. The authors conclude that current policy priorities are disproportionately focused on terrorism and illicit drugs, while neglecting areas with far greater potential for harm reduction. They argue that counter-terrorism successes should be maintained but that resources must be redirected toward stricter regulation and enforcement in road safety, workplace safety, and the control of tobacco and alcohol. Specifically, the paper suggests that tobacco could be subject to prohibition similar to illicit drugs, while alcohol and road safety require tighter regulatory controls, such as reduced speed limits and enhanced enforcement. The study advocates for a more scientific, harm-based approach to policing and regulation to maximize improvements in public well-being.

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• comparative international
• incidence prevalence

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes