Page 3286 - Week 11 - Thursday, 12 September 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mr Connolly knows this. I cannot believe that, knowing that the MPI was coming on, he has not received advice from the police today. The AFP received many complaints relating to certain prohibition discos and nightspots in the Territory. For commercial reasons, I am not naming those spots; but you can guess the names of those places. I stress that those complaints were matters of serious concern.
I was told, in one police report, that the police had found up to 700 young children at one of the premises in the charge of a handful of allegedly responsible adults. I was told that the police observed parents dropping off children who clearly could no longer fit into the premises and that the children were wandering off into town. When I expressed concern about this, I received a very crafty petition circulated around town with the assistance of a certain licensee. Mr Speaker, members would have seen another letter reflecting that campaign in the paper in the last few days. I in no way seek to prevent drinking for 18-year-olds and above.
I also sought the assistance of my colleague Mr Duby in relation to fire matters. I warn this house that this is a most important issue. He very promptly - the record will show this - sent the fire brigade into certain areas of our city, particularly old buildings in the city, and they revealed that some matters needed urgent attention. Members should listen to this. One nightspot that supposedly was under the proper surveillance of GALA, one underground nightspot, crowded with kids, did not have an exit, contrary to the law.
Mr Connolly has dismissed our call for an inquiry. I want to tell Mr Connolly that, in another world, I had a bit to do with a tragedy that occurred at the Whisky Au-Go-Go premises in Brisbane many years ago. A lot of young children died because someone threw a can of petrol down the stairwell. I assure Mr Connolly that I have the deepest concerns about the location presently of certain prohibition discos in this town where many children gather.
Some of those premises are wooden structure buildings. In July 1982, in relation to one such building where I had my office, I was a solicitor for premises that were destroyed by arson in that particular building in a matter of minutes. The floor fell through in minutes. I went there whilst the place was still burning. I could not believe how quickly that place came down.
Mr Speaker, that is the reason why this inquiry is called upon to look at safety issues. I congratulate the fire brigade for the stoic task they are doing in holding the line, but the answers lie in leasehold planning reforms relating to the whole issue of liquor sale in this Territory.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .