Page 1117 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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MR COLLAERY: We will be taking up that issue. He was not speaking necessarily for me, Mr Connolly.
Mr Wood: He was not speaking for Mr Collaery?
MR COLLAERY: Certainly not. Mr Speaker, the ACT Government cannot control national advertising in newspapers, magazines, television and the media. That is an issue that we also need to address in the challenge of alcohol advertising. As Mr Wood well knows, the ACT Board of Health is undertaking some measures to encourage young people not to drink, but these measures need to be part of a long-term program aimed at changing attitudes.
On the subject of alcohol advertising, members have interjected and said that it may raise a question of free speech, as was alluded to by my colleague Mr Kaine in the matter of banning election advertising. I want the house to fully understand that the Residents Rally, which I lead, has not developed a policy on that issue yet, although I hold personal views. It will be announced shortly and we will stick by it.
The support services that we have looked at in the context of the committee report include encouraging my colleague Mr Humphries in relation to the 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Service which is now operating - and operating effectively, on the advice of my advisers. The comprehensive review of mental health services is under way, and the first report is available.
The Conflict Resolution Service has been funded to establish an adolescent mediation centre. I am sure members welcome that event. Also, an adolescent day clinic to assist 12- to 16-year-old people with severe emotional and behavioural problems has been established. Of course, we have the well publicised Street Link program which will interlink causes of unemployment, homelessness and offending behaviour.
The Australian Federal Police generally agree with the thrust of policing recommendations. For example, there is the Summernats and there are the Liquor Act amendments which we have made unanimously in this place to equalise police and the powers of the liquor inspectors. There is an AFP community liaison group which meets regularly with ACT youth workers, where information is exchanged and common goals are explored. I believe that, if we can rotate police - particularly younger police - through that liaison function, we can improve the interface in confrontation situations which seem to be developing once again, sadly, always around the alcohol focus in this town. ACT police training is focusing now on community policing. We have established, as you are aware, a community policing advisory committee.
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