Page 2959 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 October 1992
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MR STEVENSON: He contacted me, which was one of the reasons, I think, that the thing was finally resolved. I did not help him, other than to point him to the right people; but that made the difference. He had been to ministers of religion; he had been to police; he had been to lawyers. Unfortunately, people within the social welfare department spread the rumour and told solicitors that he was putting bombs in solicitors' offices. It made it extremely difficult for him to get legal representation. It was acknowledged by the police that that was false data. Something should be done about this in New South Wales. John Howard has mentioned this point. Nothing has yet been done. He also made over 6,000 phone calls over six years. Prior to hearing about this gentleman I used to think I was persistent. Finally, he regained control of the child. So, is this justice? I suggest that we would all acknowledge that it is not.
I think that the lawyers in the Legal Aid Commission, in the main, do a wonderful job. I think there are many lawyers who help out at community centres throughout Australia; but was it not a tradition that young lawyers help people, and is that not a tradition that we should return to?
MADAM SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.
POSTPONEMENT OF ORDERS OF THE DAY
Motion (by Mr Lamont), by leave, agreed to:
That orders of the day Nos 2, 3 and 4, Executive business - Consumer Affairs (Amendment) Bill 1992, Electoral Bill 1992 and Conservation, Heritage and Environment - Standing Committee (First Assembly) - Report - Environmental and Heritage Aspects of Rural Leases - Government response - Motion to take note of paper - be postponed until a later hour this day.
MOTOR TRAFFIC (ALCOHOL AND DRUGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992
Debate resumed from 15 October 1992, on motion by Mr Connolly:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR WESTENDE (5.58): Madam Speaker, the Opposition supports the Bill. The Minister was kind enough to arrange for Mrs Carnell, Ms Szuty and me to see the equipment. We attended the presentation of this new equipment earlier this week and we were satisfied that it will upgrade breath testing. The new automatic breathalyser instrument, Drager Alcotest 7110, will obviously improve efficiencies in police operations and its introduction will bring the ACT into line with the rest of the country.
We need to continue a concerted effort to combat drink-driving. I have some reservations that, now that the equipment can be used more widely by the police, in that it will not require anywhere near as much training, there may be less attention to setting up special breathalyser teams. If there were to be that eventuality, there could be the danger of letting breathalysing lapse a little. I certainly hope that this will not be the case and I believe that the Minister should
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