Page 1111 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Public Behaviour
Debate resumed from 19 March 1991, on motion by Mr Wood:
That the recommendations be agreed to.
MR STEFANIAK, by leave: Last night I indicated a number of improvements that the Government is initiating as a result of the public behaviour inquiry which the Standing Committee on Social Policy undertook. It brought down its report some time ago. Before I stopped last night I had mentioned that the AFP is particularly well placed for community policing, and has been, indeed, since the inception of the ACT Police Force. I am pleased to see that this Government is encouraging the AFP, and that the AFP has undertaken to open more shopfronts. There are shopfronts in Belconnen, Woden and Tuggeranong. There is a beat station in Garema Place. All those measures ensure greater access of the public to the police and provide a more visible police presence.
It is also pleasing to see the AFP undertake - apart from its recruit training, and as part of its rapport with the public - a program in schools. Police are sent out to schools to talk to school students and to relate to them and ensure that students can get used to the police, trust the police and break down any possible barriers that might exist between youth and police. It is very important - and I do not think there is probably any substitute for it - for police to be seen on the beat. In recent times there has been a tendency in some Western countries and, indeed, in Australia for more and more police to be patrolling around in cars rather than going back on the beat.
I am pleased to see that the AFP in Canberra is encouraging more and more police to go back on the beat, because that is a visible deterrent. I know that some of my colleagues opposite in the ALP place great store on that, and they are correct to that extent. Despite the fact that it is essential that police are seen on the beat, it still does not negate the fact that police do need sufficient powers so that they can act when things go wrong.
I mentioned yesterday when speaking on the Social Policy report that the committee and, indeed, the Government were adopting a wait and see attitude in relation to whether one aspect that was put before the committee by a number of groups, especially by the police, should be considered further. That is the restricting of on licence times. Indeed, as a result of continuing problems in certain areas, namely, around Brierly Street in Weston Creek and, indeed, the continuing problem in such areas as Weedon Close, Belconnen, I feel that it is very important that licences be restricted so that on liquor licences do not permit trading between the hours of about 4.00 am and 10.00 am.
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