Page 5062 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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Mr Wood: We want the police to be there and to use their powers.
MR STEFANIAK: The police will be there, and the Attorney-General will be addressing that further. He will be going into more detail in relation to police arrangements. Police have always been at Natex to control this event.
Mr Berry: Another Alliance disaster.
MR STEFANIAK: Mr Berry, what do you mean by "another Alliance disaster"? It would be even more of a disaster if you knocked out the move-on powers, mate; that is for sure. If you lot were running it this year, it would be an absolute shemozzle.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stefaniak, address your comments through the Chair.
MR STEFANIAK: Yes, Mr Speaker, I will. With the measures that this Government has set in place for the Summernats after lengthy consultations with the Australian Federal Police, the Summernats people themselves, the relevant people in Mr Duby's office and other persons in the general community who have spoken to the Government over the last 12 months about problems in relation to the Summernats, we should see a very good event this year. It should bring a lot of people to Canberra and it should have a lot less of the very disturbing problems which were caused by a very small minority and which spoilt the enjoyment of the vast majority of participants last year, and also disturbed the rightful peace and quiet that people in the surrounding suburbs are entitled to and should be entitled to. This Government has set in train a large number of actions that will counter many of the problems that have been experienced in recent years. I look forward to seeing a much more peaceful but very enjoyable Summernats this year.
MR STEVENSON (11.37): Mr Speaker, there have certainly been warranted concerns about activities associated with the Summernats. I can well understand why the Labor leader brought the matter up. Indeed, I had some concerns about the current planning that was in progress for handling the problems of the Summernats. I thank Mr Stefaniak for allaying those concerns. He covered the matter very well indeed and it would seem that all that can be done has been done.
The major problem, perhaps, has been the one of camping, and that looks like not being a problem in this year's Summernats. Perhaps the second most important problem was the parade of vehicles along Northbourne Avenue. There is no doubt that the difficulties that have been encountered with that parade can be handled without the cancellation of the parade. I think it would be a great shame if the parade were cancelled. It does give the community in Canberra the opportunity to look at the vehicles without having to go to the actual Summernats exhibition. The
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