Page 5135 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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I think that there has been some evidence lately of a slackening of penalties. For example, in January 1987 there was a newspaper report that said that a man who had appeared before the court for the breach of an order was the first man not to go to gaol. That was in 1987. His offence, which had involved merely pleading with his partner, earned him a $400 fine. But, recently, I believe, in quite stark contrast, there was a case where a woman reported to the police over 100 breaches in a five-month period and when the charges relating to those offences were heard they were all heard at once and the penalty was a $250 fine. I think that is a worry because it shows a slackening in the seriousness with which the courts are dealing with domestic violence breaches. I think there are clear cases where the courts have to take into account particular circumstances, but in general I do not believe that we should condone any sort of a slackening, and I think that as community representatives in this Assembly we should never hesitate to make it clear that we regard this as criminal behaviour and that we expect the law to be carried out to its full extent.
Compulsory Retirement Age
DR KINLOCH (5.28): I am sure we would all want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for those thoughtful remarks about that very difficult subject.
Mr Speaker, I just want to say briefly that we are swamped, of course, with all the material we get. We have had five more booklets today, and one tries to go through them as best one can. I want to express a very great worry about the Australian Capital Territory Gaming and Liquor Authority's ninth annual report, page 8, where it says:
Retirement Age.
In February 1990 the Authority accepted advice that the ACT Government sector compulsory retirement age provisions should apply. Consequently the compulsory retirement age for permanent staff is 65 years with an option for early retirement from age 55.
I do not know the details of the law about retirement; but, in view of what I was saying yesterday about New South Wales, may I ask that those responsible please begin looking at removing these restrictive and discriminatory provisions for young people aged 65.
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