Page 1339 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 5 April 2005
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drinks. That is drink spiking. But these things are done in the dark. They are done by people who are sneaky, cowardly individuals.
It is true that undercover agents—not as many as Mr Pratt would like; at the minute we are about 220,000 undercover people short—actually do frequent premises. Because of the increased reporting, they are now building up a body of evidence where they can visit specific nightspots. That is happening, as we have seen.
As every member here will know, there is a difficulty in finding the actual perpetrator after an event. When a person’s symptoms are revealed, it is often well and truly after the offence has been committed. It is particularly different on a lot of occasions to find out whether there was a chemical introduced or just an increased amount of alcohol. When a chemical has been introduced, often by the time the person has recovered sufficiently there is no memory. It is very difficult to find any residual chemical within the system.
Without sufficient evidence—as Mr Stefaniak might like to enlighten Mr Pratt—able to be tested in court, prosecution is difficult, if not impossible. The solution to this has to be a community partnership. People have to take responsibility and go along with it. The licensed premises operators nowadays are doing that. They are keeping an eye out. They do not want this stuff going on in their premises either. The next time Mr Pratt visits one of our lovely nightspots, he might find a coaster on top of the drink. That means that he has walked off and left it for somebody to spike.
Asbestos
MRS BURKE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the minister for housing. Minister, given the publicity and advertising campaigns warning people of the dangers of asbestos, what processes are currently in train to identify and advise tenants who are living in public housing properties that may contain asbestos? What contingency planning has the government done, in the event of any claims against it for damages by tenants, in relation to exposure to asbestos?
MR HARGREAVES: We have examined all of the housing premises and have determined the level of asbestos that is in there. It is on the public record.
Mrs Burke: Could the minister repeat that? I am sorry; I did not hear you.
MR HARGREAVES: It is on the public record. We have done it; it has been done.
MRS BURKE: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, have there been any claims for compensation from ACT Housing tenants claiming to have been exposed to asbestos in their properties? If so, how many have there been?
MR HARGREAVES: Not to my knowledge, Mr Speaker.
Seniors week
MS PORTER: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, we again celebrate seniors week in the ACT. Can you please inform the chamber of the
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