Page 2767 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 1991
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In closing my remarks, Mr Speaker, I would like to remind the Attorney, Mr Connolly, about comments he made in this place about the South Australian system of law and justice when he was in opposition. I seem to recall that at one stage he came back from a conference in South Australia and indicated that he had had extensive consultations and discussions with the Minister for Police there, who, of course, is of a similar political persuasion. It would seem, Mr Speaker, that in South Australia they have seen a need for this power. I would hope that Mr Connolly is not going to use selective memory, if you like, and just take those bits of a system that suit him rather than accept the fact that maybe the South Australians have a point in using the move-on powers.
In relation to New South Wales, it may be that the problem there is that over a long number of years the police did not have a really good name. They had a slight image problem in New South Wales. It was probably quite appropriate that the police did not have those powers. Not only were the police in some areas of New South Wales on the nose but also the investigation of themselves was on the nose. It was probably quite appropriate, Mr Speaker, or fortunate that the police in New South Wales did not have those powers. Now that they appear to have cleaned up their act, so to speak, in New South Wales and have made some changes and are working towards improvements, they may see some of the benefits.
We do not, in the ACT, want to go down the path of some of the harassment and problems that are being experienced in New South Wales at the moment, particularly on the trains and the buses, et cetera. There are continual cases and reports of people being harassed on their way home or going about their business. If that sort of activity continues in New South Wales the New South Wales police force may seek from their Minister similar powers to those held by police in the ACT; but that is another story.
Mr Speaker, in closing, I support the concept and the idea of the move-on power that we have here, provided there are sufficient checks and balances to ensure that it is exercised in a manner that will ensure that the community is looked after and is able to operate without fear of losing their life every time they move outside the front door.
MRS NOLAN (11.35): Mr Speaker, I do not intend to speak at length in this debate today, but I must say at the outset that to me there cannot be a better reason for the retention of the move-on powers than a recommendation for their continuance from the Assistant Commissioner of Police. The job of any city's police force is never an easy one and any laws or regulations which better equip them to perform their duties should be commended and retained. The move-on powers which have been in place since 1989 have contributed to a reduced crime rate, fewer arrests and a much safer environment in the Canberra community.
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