Page 5104 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This proposal is by no means new or drastic. As Mr Thompson stated, such signs are common in Sydney, which also has discrimination legislation. It is being considered in Queensland. It happens in Western Australia. This is a reasonable response to an unreasonable circumstance. Remember, attendance at school is compulsory under the Education Act. Yet simple shopkeepers would currently be committing an offence if they attempt to make sure this happens.
I really hope some common sense can prevail here today. I implore the government and the Greens to put aside prejudice and see this for what it is, a circumstance that is not supported by the community, a circumstance that has exposed a flaw in our current legislation, and a simple solution that allows teachers, students and business people to get on with giving our kids the best opportunity possible without any incomprehensible interference.
Once again, the Canberra Liberals are prepared to stand with the community, side by side, and stand up for the children who are being taught by this debacle that the law is actually there to defend waggers when, indeed, it should not be. Once again, the Canberra Liberals are prepared to bring common sense to the debate and propose a practical solution. Once again, I ask this Assembly to support a sensible solution. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned to the next sitting.
Corrections Management (Mandatory Urine Testing) Amendment Bill 2010
Mr Hanson, pursuant to notice, presented the bill.
Title read by Clerk.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (10.24): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am tabling this legislation today in response to the fact that this government have given up on keeping drugs out of the Alexander Maconochie Centre. They have stated that they believe that they are doing all that they can to eradicate drugs, and they have stated that there is nothing else that can be done. We refuse to accept that this is true. We refuse to accept that “drugs are readily available” and that there is not anything that can be done about it.
The Australian Institute of Criminology found that 37 per cent of detainees attributed some of their offending to drugs and that 41 per cent of detainees are deemed to be dependent on drugs. The 2003 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare paper on the health of prisoners found that 71 per cent of prisoners had used illicit drugs in the last 12 months—that is, prisoners who are entering jail—with illicit drug use being slightly more common amongst female than male entrants. The highest percentages of illicit drug use were recorded by entrants aged 25 to 34 years—that is, amongst
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video