Page 778 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 March 1991
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SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Public Behaviour
Debate resumed from 22 February, on motion by Mr Wood:
That the recommendations be agreed to.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (8.37): Mr Speaker, I understand that Mr Berry has waived his right to respond to this matter in favour of the Government, and I appreciate the fact that he has agreed to do that. I table the following paper:
Social Policy - Standing Committee - Report on Public Behaviour - Government response.
On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank the members of the standing committee for the work that they have done in relation to this matter. Clearly a lot of work went into the preparation of the report and the people concerned should, in my view, be congratulated.
In general, the Government supports the thrust of the recommendations made by the standing committee in its report and already much has been done towards resolving the problems raised by that report. In order to reduce inconvenience to the general public and disruption in public places, the Government has been working to identify areas, for example, where skateboarding might be banned. At the same time it has been providing special skateboard facilities throughout Canberra.
In connection with the Summer Nationals, the arrangements made for the 1990 Summer Nationals included advance planning, consultation with the organisers and implementation of measures such as the banning of camping and parking on Northbourne Avenue. The formula adopted was successful, with considerably fewer public behaviour problems than have occurred in the past. Consequently, for major public events in the future, consultations will take place between the police, other agencies and organisers to minimise the possibility of public behaviour problems.
The Government, is in general agreement with the thrust of the recommendations about policing in the ACT, and the majority of these recommendations are either already in place or are being implemented. Arrangements for the Summer Nationals and amendments to the Liquor Act to give police the same powers as liquor inspectors are two examples of the actions that the Government has taken in this regard.
On the matter of the safety aspects of drinking, the Government is looking at alternatives to the committee's recommendation on the introduction of glass container deposit legislation which will also promote recycling.
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