Page 455 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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Mr Wood: Yes, and in putting up with the noise!
MR STEVENSON: That is right. These places were not particularly attractive to Bill and me, but there were people enjoying themselves. We had been told that there were major problems at a couple of places, but in our estimation these were not particularly major, we must admit that. We also must understand that the police in our society are the ones who have to uphold the laws and it is they who need our support. (Extension of time granted) The police know what problems there are because basically that is what they are dealing with most of their time. If there are any problems in Canberra, the police find out about them. We may never know 90 per cent of what they understand. But it is vital that we, as an Assembly, take great heed of what the police are telling us, and give it major importance because they see this day after day. They have highlighted the fact, as we have, that alcohol is a base cause of the problem and that there are just a few licensed premises around Canberra that tend to be the prime areas where these problems stem from. As they have mentioned, it is usually after the hour of two o'clock in the morning.
When we looked at young people, we were encouraged to learn of programs such as that at Wyong, in New South Wales. First offenders who plead guilty in the courts can have their case adjourned for three months. During that time they appear before a panel comprising a police representative, a solicitor, an adult citizen and a young person. What a good idea. Members of the panel talk to offenders about their crime and about their situation in life, and they are asked to perform 40 hours of voluntary work at a suitable community organisation before their cases come back to the court. It was reported in June 1989 that since November 1987, 408 first offenders had appeared before the panel and only 12 since that time had been charged again of whom only one had been institutionalised. What a marvellous idea - - -
Mr Collaery: That was my client!
MR STEVENSON: Perhaps you should not bring that matter up, Bernard! What a wonderful opportunity that flags for us as we move towards taking over acceptance of responsibility for the police to put far more attention on rehabilitation than on sentencing offenders. All in all, I think we learned a lot from the inquiry. I had no idea that alcohol was quite the problem that it obviously is.
I feel that the other major point that is worthy of mention, is the one I spoke of earlier - the system of all parties working capably together, with each of us using our abilities to the best in benefiting the people of the ACT.
Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.
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