Page 101 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
It is very important that we look at restrictive practices that inhibit business growth in Canberra. Minister Berry mentioned occupational health and safety. I think we all agree that there is a need for that legislation, but certainly my party wants to ensure that that legislation is fair and does not lead to needless increases in union power and needless expense to small business and other business. We will be taking a very close look at that legislation when it comes before the Assembly to ensure that indeed it is fair and that it relates to occupational health and safety and not to other extraneous issues.
It is very important as well in talking about restrictive practices to look at ways in which we can improve jobs, and especially jobs for the young. The question of youth wages is one area that can be looked at and freed up to ensure that there are more opportunities for our young.
There are a number of exciting ventures too, Mr Speaker, which are going to come to Canberra shortly and which will affect us. I think the very fast train proposal has a lot of potential, and indeed, as certain other speakers have mentioned, we have to look at developing other types of industry and development in Canberra. One area that has been neglected and has a lot of potential is the education industry.
There must be development in Canberra but it has to be done in a controlled way, to take advantage of and to help the unique environment. The environment of Canberra must be preserved. It is unique, and one can travel the world and not see a more beautiful city than Canberra.
I have a special interest, I suppose, in the area of criminal law because I was a prosecutor for nine and a half years. It is a sad fact that Canberra has become a lot less law-abiding than it was some 10 years ago. We used to have a murder a year. Now, for the last month, we have had about one a week in the environs of Canberra. Burglaries have increased about three times from the 1983 figure. I think it is very important that sentencing be looked at, and perhaps the attitude of the legal system and of the courts needs to be reconsidered. Victims need to be given more input into the system and I believe that victim impact statements should be introduced to courts so that the effect of crimes, especially serious crimes, on victims can be brought to the attention of the authorities.
There has been too much concentration in recent years throughout Australia, and certainly in Canberra, on the rights of the criminal, to the detriment of the victim and the community. It is also important, I feel, that the whittling away of police powers be attended to. Those of you on the ministerial consultative committee are no doubt aware that two areas - drinking in public places and move-on powers, which I think are fairly urgent - should be looked at by this Assembly in the very near future. It is very important, when talking about civil liberties, not to
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .