The ACT government may have ruled out introducing lockout laws to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence in Canberra, but the issue is likely to remain a feature of the election campaign.
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Incoming president of the ACT Australian Medical Association, professor Steven Robson, an obstetrics specialist and academic at the Australian National University, has promised to revive the debate in coming months.
"It would be naive to say an election wasn't a great time to get leverage on your key issues," he said.
"One of my hobby horses is lockout laws and last drinks policies. That's something I really want to pursue.
"If you look at the evidence around this and the role of lockout laws in Newcastle and Sydney, it shows a clear reduction in presentations to emergency departments."
ACT chief minister Andrew Barr ruled out lockout laws this year after a number of well publicised coward punches outside popular venues. He said "prohibitions, curfews and the like tend not to be particularly successful".
His response was a contrast to measures taken by the NSW and Queensland government, which have introduced lockout laws at popular nightlife districts in Sydney and Brisbane.
The decision was also criticised by the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol, whose co-chairman Michael Moore accused the government of going softly in an election year.
Professor Robson, a former director of obstetrics and gynaecology at Canberra Hospital, said he was aware many businesses opposed lockout laws but insisted a compromise could be reached.
"It's just a no-brainer but I also understand it would impose potential economic consequences on pubs and clubs," he said.
"If you own a pub or a club, you've got as big a social responsibility as doctors do and one of the things we can do is sit down as a group and look at other ways.
"There is a balance to be struck between the responsible use and sale of alcohol and promoting the safety of the community."
Professor Robson will replace Dr Elizabeth Gallagher once her two-year term expires on Wednesday. He will be formally appointed at the organisation's annual general meeting.
The 52-year-old, who is also president-elect of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said he would also campaign for more effective funding of hospitals.
"If you look at the big issues the territory government face when it comes to health, the funding of our public hospitals is such a key component," he said.
"There is budget pressure at the moment and we know that, but just asking for money all the time is not always helpful and can be counterproductive.
"If you want to tackle the bigger issue, you've got to keep people out of hospital and we need to be more creative with our approach to preventative health care."
