Page 669 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
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We hear the words of judges of the South Australian Supreme Court, and we know that the young have a language of their own largely these days which may not offend the average constable and which may not offend at least some of us, Mr Speaker. But the irony about this move-on power so far as I am concerned, as a practitioner over years in this town, is that if they had some restricted move-on power to deal with situations of violence and damage to property they would have less excuse, and there would be more opportunity for police internal inquiries to ask why they did not give the opportunity first to move on before they say they found the language offensive to them.
Very often as they get out of their trucks they are using the same language for which we hear they are arresting the youngsters. So there very clearly needs to be a healing process in this town, and under the new assistant commissioner it is possible that there can be a healing process which largely needs to apply in the jobless youth area. They are not empty words. As a practitioner and as a defending counsel in the area over years, I sincerely hope that we can do that with this move-on power, if it is to be brought in. I am not prejudging the committee, but certainly the Rally supports some better attempt to deal with unprovoked crimes of violence and damage to property in the community.
Mr Stefaniak will have his time to speak to this Bill at some other time, but he has indicated very clearly that nothing here is designed to deal with industrial and workplace disturbances. He drafted yesterday, unknown apparently to the media this morning, a very specific provision, with the help of the government draftsman acting as draftsman to the private member's Bill, that the Bill would include a clause excluding persons involved in picketing places of employment, demonstrating or protesting about a particular matter, and speaking, bearing or otherwise identifying with, a banner, placard or sign, or otherwise behaving in a way that is apparently intended to publicise the person's views about a particular matter. What could be clearer?
But then again drafting is difficult. The Standing Committee on Social Policy of this Assembly, to which I believe my friend Mr Wood referred, is inexpert in areas of dealing with the nitty-gritty and the technicality of legal drafting. Every other assembly, Mr Speaker, has some form of committee. We are yet to decide that, and this does not prejudge it. But, given the urgency with which Mr Stefaniak has pressed the Bill, the Rally has joined with the Liberal Party in supporting a select committee to look specifically at this Bill. As you know, Mr Speaker, there is another motion in the list today that the standing orders that can relate to the issues, such as where we refer Bills to, will be debated.
As an interim measure, this select committee should be formed. I recommend it thoroughly to the house as a way of
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