Page 5076 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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Mr Wood: Bare bottoms, too.
MS FOLLETT: Yes, exactly, though I am not going to go into that aspect of it, Mr Wood. Mr Wood has drawn attention to the offensive behaviour. I think that it is absolutely true to say that if the vast majority of the population were to engage in offensive behaviour, whether it be by way of nudity or other actions, something would usually be done. We have seen it done at the cricket on a regular basis. But at the Summernats they get away with it. It is the question of equality before the law that is offensive.
There is also, of course, the question of how the law is implemented, and I was particularly appalled to hear Mr Wood's preview of the "sound-off". To have 150 vehicles with their radios turned to maximum on the same station surely seems to me to be an open invitation to contravene the Noise Control Act. I hope it will be treated as such. Mr Speaker, it is that equality of application of the law that I think people find at least as offensive as the nuisance value of the whole thing.
I also believe that, now that we have some details on the kinds of resources that the Government must put in to police and control this event, we will indeed need to take a pretty hard look at the economic balance. It seems to me that 160 police rostered on for four days, a couple of liquor inspectors, and any number of parking inspectors and national parks people, are an almighty resource for the community to put in so that the Summernats participants can enjoy their event without wrecking the rest of the community.
Mr Wood: And a limited return, I think.
MS FOLLETT: I believe that the economic return to our community is very limited. In fact, some of the business people that I have spoken to in the area said that they would rather do without that business because it drives away their regulars. They will not walk to the local shops if they think there is going to be a mob of drunks there harassing them. There have been incidents like that. So, I think the economic return does, again, have to be looked at very hard.
Mr Speaker, I welcome Mr Collaery's assurance that some post-Summernats evaluation will be carried out, and I also welcome his invitation for the Opposition to be involved in that. I would certainly like to be involved in it, as I have a particular interest in the event, particularly while it occurs in the area where I live and where I take a special interest in the concerns of residents. It is a fact that we hear every event from the racecourse and Natex. We regularly enjoy blow by blow descriptions of every show, every fireworks display and every race meeting. I do not mind; I do not think most people mind. It is a happy noise. It is usually over shortly after dark, and it is part of the charm of living near those facilities.
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