Page 1119 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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there may well be a communication issue that has resulted in a matter relating to that Bill which I am sure Mr Berry does not intend and which, I am sure, he might care to comment upon shortly.
MR WOOD (4.14), in reply: As I close this stage of the debate - for I am sure it will continue - let me remind members that the Social Policy Committee that was looking into public behaviour, or misbehaviour, heard evidence that Canberra was one of the safest cities in the world. That is something we ought to bear in mind. We heard also that public misbehaviour is not seen by many as a major problem or even a very serious problem. Nevertheless, the committee took the view that there is scope to make Canberra a more congenial city, a city where there is less anxiety on the part of its people in moving around and less disruption to their freedom of movement, even from such relatively minor things as skateboards.
The committee took the view that we ought to work to improve our city and to make it an even better place than it already is. The report and the aftermath have demonstrated that this can be done - that Canberra can become better. The report demonstrated that it does pay to focus on particular events. Much mention has been made of the Summernats and the recent Canberra Festival. The point has been made that there was much less concern about those events than there was in earlier years, though I do mention that the Canberra Festival has always had a very good record.
Earlier today, the Minister responsible for police mentioned that there had been only four arrests at the Food and Wine Frolic. I am sure my memory tells me that in other years the number has been much closer to three figures. That shows what happens when we focus on the issues and there is discussion amongst all concerned and an interest from all people to see that the situation is improved. That is the reason, I suggest, that this is still only one stage of the debate, because that focus will continue. I thank the Government for its response and for the general support that has been received from members.
The Government's response, I think, can be categorised in three ways. First of all, it indicated that action is being taken as a result of those recommendations; for example, amendments to the Liquor Act that went through this chamber recently, or proposals on skateboard facilities. Secondly, the Government has indicated - and we have heard further comment on that today - that action is about to be taken. I would encourage that to be done expeditiously. The third level of response was one of sympathetic consideration where there are, perhaps, some difficulties in implementing a recommendation of the committee. For example, we acknowledge that container deposit legislation, though highly desirable, is, nevertheless, not necessarily easy to implement in what is an island in New South Wales.
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