Page 4955 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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reward, such as taxis and hire cars, buses and coaches, have a particular responsibility towards the public whom they carry. Passengers in such vehicles have a right to expect that these drivers have adopted a responsible and safe approach to the driving of a public vehicle.
To reduce the burden on the courts, given that there is likely to be an increase in prosecutions, the Bill provides that first offenders in the .05 blood alcohol concentration category who register between .05 and .08 are to be subject to a $500 fine on the spot. Repeat offenders in the same circumstances will be subject to a court imposed fine, automatic licence suspension up to six months or licence cancellation.
I take this opportunity to foreshadow that in 12 months' time a points demerit system will be introduced in the Territory in compliance with the Prime Minister's 10-point road safety initiatives. The Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) Act will be amended at that time to impose a fine and six demerit points, as an added deterrent, against the licence of a person to whom the higher .05 limit applies for each offence between .05 and .08.
This Bill is part of the Alliance Government's ongoing commitment to improve road safety and reduce the road toll in the ACT. It comprises part of a graduated drivers licence scheme for novice drivers to be introduced in 1992 and also complements such measures as increased penalties for traffic infringements, increased enforcement of seat belt and child restraint requirements and continuing road safety education programs in schools. Drink-driving offences are regarded most seriously by all, and this Bill serves to reinforce this message to the community. I present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Connolly) adjourned.
MAGISTRATES COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (4.52), by leave: Mr Speaker, I present the Magistrates Court (Amendment) Bill 1990. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, the purpose of this Bill is to streamline the keep-the-peace provisions in part X of the Magistrates Court Act 1930. Keep-the-peace provisions provide protection to people who have been threatened with or have sustained physical injury or whose property has been damaged in a non-domestic context, such as - and I use the words advisedly - in girlfriend-boyfriend relationships or between neighbours. As such, it is an important corollary to the protection offered in our domestic violence legislation. The present procedure for keep-the-peace
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