Page 5072 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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The estimated crowd size was 15,000 to 20,000 daily. We acknowledge that we are missing a close economic analysis of what the other return is to the Territory in terms of expenditure, tourism and the rest, and I will come back to that again in a moment. But that full report was made available to the Assembly committee and I believe that it was responsible of the Government to authorise the police to provide that full brief.
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition mentioned move-on powers. With a crowd of 15,000 to 20,000 daily, I am advised by the AFP that the use of the move-on powers was not considered to be viable in such circumstances from a policing aspect. The use of move-on powers at the Summernats would have been appropriate only to disperse small isolated pockets of troublemakers in the crowd. I am advised that the move-on powers were used in connection with an incident at Dickson where a person who attempted to obstruct a police officer inquiring into a motor vehicle incident was asked to move on. I have said before in this house that I am more than happy when a hothead who wants to interfere when the police are questioning an offender is asked to move on, rather than be charged with insulting language, offensive behaviour or the like. My colleague, Mr Stefaniak, is correct when he refers to his recollection of there being only one use of the move-on powers.
I remind members that, since that time, Magistrate Dingwall in the Magistrates Court has found that, from his point of view - it is not a court of record, and I say that with respect to Magistrate Dingwall - the move-on power must be used per person and not directed towards a group. So, there again - through you, Mr Speaker - is a limitation in the terms of that magistrate's finding on the current use of the move-on power; that is, that it had to be directed individual by individual. So it is my respectful assessment that I doubt that the move-on power, itself, is a suitable device with which to control a crowd of that nature.
Mr Speaker, in that respect, I am advised that the police will be rostering approximately 160 police over those four days. My department will also be rostering two liquor inspectors to deal with liquor, particularly under-age issues which concern us all in this Assembly, I am sure. As well, Mr Duby's department is rostering - in other words, bringing from existing duties on those days - 10 parking inspectors, together with two extras. They will be there 24 hours a day and will have powers to curb the camping intrusions that the Leader of the Opposition, quite rightly, submits are not acceptable.
Mr Speaker, that is a very large contingent that the Territory is putting forward to deal with this issue. At the same time, I was pleased that Commander Dau from the AFP came over to hear the submissions put by the Opposition today. He has made a note of them and already discussions are being held as to how we will do a very clear post-
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