Page 1673 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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Madam Speaker, we are moving in advance of the committee's final consideration of these issues because advice that is coming to us from the general community and from the ACT Community Safety Committee, whose report I tabled yesterday, is that there is an urgent need to address public behaviour problems in Civic and other town centres caused by the irresponsible use of alcohol. We do this with some reluctance because a comprehensive analysis of the topic and a coordinated set of recommendations from the Law Reform Committee would be a preferable basis for legislative action. With that in mind, we have decided not to adopt at this stage the other recommendations from the police.
Some of these recommendations propose restoration to the Crimes Act of provisions that were removed some years ago. The recommendations raise delicate issues of civil liberties and we take the view that the appropriate way to balance the conflicting values that are involved is through the community based process that the issues paper is predicated upon. For the same reason, the Government believes that the issue of on-the-spot fines for street offences, which would represent a fundamental change in criminal law principles and procedures, should also be considered in the context of the committee's inquiry. The Government has resolved, therefore, at this point, not to further support Mr Moore's Crimes (Amendment) Bill 1993 at this stage, pending the outcome of these broader inquiries. The issues paper is an important document dealing with an important subject, and I am confident that it will stimulate debate and discussion that will help to clarify and refine the issue for final consideration in this chamber.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION - APPOINTMENTS
Ministerial Statement
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.26): I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on appointments to the ACT Electoral Commission.
Leave granted.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, it gives me considerable pleasure to announce to the Legislative Assembly that, following the passage of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 1993 in April this year, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1994 was notified in the Gazette yesterday. I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that two of the three appointments to the ACT Electoral Commission were also made yesterday. Following a process of consultation with Mr Humphries, Mr Moore, Ms Szuty and Mr Stevenson, the Executive has appointed two persons who I am sure will discharge the duties of the commission with distinction.
Madam Speaker, Mr Graham Glenn has been reappointed as chairperson of the Electoral Commission for a period of five years. Mr Glenn was originally appointed as chairperson for a period of 12 months in December 1992. His wealth of experience in public administration proved invaluable during that time, and I am sure that it will be again in the busy time coming up to the February 1995 election. The second appointment
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