Page 1038 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 1991
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There was a lot of prior preparation, planning and liaison between all the relevant government agencies, including the police and the organisers. That worked very well. It was generally a very well run public event. I think all people concerned, including the residents, were a lot happier with it than last year. That might also say something in terms of how well other events such as the Food and Wine Frolic can be run. I note in the report that the Canberra Festival Committee states that that is, in fact, meant to be a family day in the park. I think the AFP opinion that what was meant to be a family day in the park has ceased to be so is, in fact, quite correct.
By about 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the Food and Wine Frolic gets pretty unruly indeed. Far from being a family activity in the park - I am more or less tempted to use a colloquial euphemism here, and you will probably ask me to withdraw it - it is just basically a gigantic piss-up, for want of a better word. That causes concern to some members. I think "booze-up" might be a little bit more polite. I note that neither the police nor any other agency has indicated that that should stop. Certainly a number of steps need to be taken there. There are a number of other activities and problems highlighted by this report that I think need to be taken into account. Indeed, in the Government's response, a number of measures have been taken to alleviate those problems.
Alcohol control is very important. Alcohol is one of the biggest factors in relation to anti-social behaviour in Canberra. That was recognised not only by this committee, but by the committee that I chaired which looked at move-on powers under the Police Offences Act. One of the big problems in Canberra which so many people see is that of alcohol abuse and crimes related to the excessive consumption of alcohol. A number of improvements have been made. The Liquor Act now gives the AFP the same powers that the Gaming and Liquor Authority inspectors have to initiate proceedings for breaches relating to under-age drinking. The AFP also now has the same control over the sale of liquor to intoxicated persons as the Gaming and Liquor Authority.
I note also in the report some recommendations and some discussion in relation to problems of licensing hours. Recommendations were, in fact, made to that committee that consideration be given to suspending liquor licences and, indeed, to restricting liquor licences to certain times. It would seem that there are a number of places in Canberra where some real problems do emanate as a result of excessive consumption of liquor. At present, Brierly Place in Weston is a huge problem. I believe that the owner of the Playwell sports store has had his windows broken 37 times in the last 18 months. That is a quite intolerable situation. Basically that is caused by persons who drink too much liquor and carry on in a totally unacceptable way after they leave what has been pinpointed as a certain licensed premises there.
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