Page 5068 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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to 150 vehicles. So, all in all I think I have demonstrated quite ably that just about all the contingencies that could be thought of have been taken care of.
Ms Follett raised the issue of community consultation. Whilst it is true that direct contact with individuals from community groups who live in that area and with individuals who live in the adjoining suburbs has not been made, all concerns expressed directly to my office have been acknowledged and have been taken into account. Those concerns expressed by individuals have been dealt with in the planning of this year's event and in the coordination of arrangements between my Department of Urban Services, the AFP, Natex and the organisers from Street Machine Services Pty Ltd. I am very confident, Mr Speaker, that this year those legitimate concerns that have been expressed will be met by the Government.
Accordingly, as I said, to Ms Follett's motion I have moved an amendment that paragraph (1), namely, "that proper and co-ordinated planning for this year's Summernats has not yet been concluded", be deleted, because it is my opinion - and I think it is fairly obvious to those opposite - that proper and coordinated planning for this year's event has occurred.
MR WOOD (11.56): Mr Speaker, in its rather miserable year of office the Alliance Government has not demonstrated much concern for the residents of north Canberra. We have only to look back and see its actions over the Ainslie tip to see clear evidence of that. I think also, of course, of Hackett Primary School which closed yesterday; and, if we are talking about roads, we can think about the Wakefield Avenue intersection that was closed for so long. So, the residents of north Canberra do not have much to thank this Government for, and they are looking for the protection that only this Government can give from the unnecessary noise, distraction, pollution and rowdyism that may emanate from this long party.
A great number of problems have arisen - last year, in particular - from the Summernats. We noted the extent of those problems in the Social Policy Committee as we read the report of the major problems and of the number of arrests that were made that was given to us by the Australian Federal Police. I would think, also, that that number of arrests indicates only the surface of the problem. Had there been a larger number of police employed and had every infringement been booked, the arrests would have gone into the thousands. So, the residents want to see that there is no repetition of the problems of previous years. I am not reassured by what Mr Duby says, even though, as he and Mr Stefaniak indicate, they have picked up some of the recommendations from the Social Policy Committee.
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