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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 3107 ..

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MS FOLLETT (6.24): Mr Speaker, during this debate I would like to clarify some points that were raised in a question asked by Mr Osborne of Mr Humphries during question time yesterday in relation to liquor trading hours in New South Wales. I would like to clarify the situation because I think members who were relying on the question time response may have got the wrong idea. The New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing did, indeed, put out a press release on 31 August 1996. In that press release Mr Face announced the terms of reference for what he called a comprehensive review of late trading hours of licensed premises in New South Wales. Mr Face notes that he is beginning a submission process for this review. The submission process opened on 1 September 1996 and closes on 29 November 1996.

The press release outlines the four terms of reference for the review. I think I should say at the outset, Mr Speaker, that Mr Humphries quoted, in an extremely limited way, from Mr Face's press release. There are, in fact, four terms of reference. They are, first of all:

To consider relevant measures that will address alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour associated with late night/early morning drinking at licensed premises.

The second is:

To consider the desirability of requiring registered clubs (which currently do not have their trading hours limited by the Registered Clubs Act) to be subject to controls on their trading hours ...

Thirdly, Mr Speaker, and this is the important term of reference:

To consider the merits of changes to the law which would see the current 24 hour trading provisions tightened, including the merits of introducing a limit which (for example) would see all premises required to close by 2 am, 3 am, 4 am (or some other specified hour).

I repeat, "To consider the merits" of that, Mr Speaker.

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