Page 5059 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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In relation to the Summernats this year, I took those concerns up with Mr Collaery and Mr Duby, as did other members of the Government. I am well aware, because I was involved in a number of meetings with both of those Ministers and consultation not only with the relevant official bodies but also with certain members of the community who had concerns. So, certainly from my personal experience, the Government has been consulting quite considerably on this and addressing the problem. I think Ms Follett referred to a statement made by Mr Duby on 15 December.
Mr Speaker, the Summer Street Car Nationals are held annually in Canberra, and this year's event will be held between 27 and 30 December 1990. The event is recognised as being important as an entertainment and tourist attraction, and indeed I think that has been acknowledged by the Assembly's Standing Committee on Social Policy. A lot of people come to Canberra. I think we are estimating that about 80,000 people will be watching this event, many of them coming to Canberra. The vast majority of those 80,000 participants are law-abiding people who cause no problems. Indeed, a lot of the element that caused problems last year was, in fact, locals, rather than interstate attenders at the carnival.
I talked to a large number of police out there last year, Mr Speaker - senior officers and junior officers - and very few of them wanted to see the event cancelled. Most of them regarded it, despite the problems, as being a very important event for Canberra. It brought a bit of life into the city and it brought a bit of business into the city at a relevant period of time, when Canberra is pretty quiet. There certainly are behavioural problems. It is interesting and, I think, somewhat hypocritical - which I will come to later - for the Labor Party to start trying to cast stones in relation to trouble in the suburbs, because I think its members have done precious little in relation to law and order over the last few years. Perhaps I will say a little bit more on that later. Unsocial behaviour did emanate from a minority of those attending, and I do not believe that that small number should be allowed to spoil the event for the very vast majority who go there and behave themselves and contribute to the event in a law-abiding way.
A number of measures which will be elaborated on by other Government speakers have been taken by this Government. In line with the recommendations of your Social Policy Committee, Mr Wood, "No camping" signs have been placed along Northbourne Avenue adjacent to Watson and Downer. During the event "No parking" signs and temporary fencing will also be placed along Northbourne Avenue adjacent to Natex, and those measures will be enforced by the Australian Federal Police, by the Parks and Conservation rangers and by the parking inspectors.
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