Page 3287 - Week 11 - Thursday, 12 September 1991
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Mr Stefaniak can speak more eloquently about public order issues. We may differ in our final approaches on those issues, but I too share the concerns of people who pass the Woden bus interchange every night. One of my staff told me today that every night she sees those unfortunate people at the Woden bus interchange. They come from various nearby places that we know about as well. They are not liquor or drinking places. It is an unfortunate scene. It needs assistance. It may need the types of assistance that my colleague Ms Maher is talking about, and the types of assistance that Mr Berry presses for - and I applaud his stand for it. They are issues that are getting too big for our community.
I believe that we should have this inquiry. It is on our conscience. We should do it in a hands-off fashion and we should do it as soon as possible. I sincerely recommend that members of this house stop the politicking on this debate right now and that all of us support this inquiry so that it is not seen to be politically prejudiced from the start.
MS MAHER (4.28): Mr Speaker, I welcome this inquiry. I am actually appalled at the Labor Party's attitude towards it. Mr Connolly and Mr Berry obviously have done no community consultation, otherwise they would recognise the problem within the community and the extent of that problem. As for Mr Berry saying across the floor of the house that there must be a better band wagon to get on, I think that is very disappointing.
Ms Follett: You have not found one yet.
MS MAHER: This is a big issue in the community and Ms Follett should go out and speak to some of the people who are concerned. Mr Speaker, alcohol is a legal drug that is socially acceptable for adults. Therefore, we are having problems in stopping our children using it. We need to concentrate on education of the community, parents and adolescents about the dangers of alcohol and the consequences of its abuse. Unfortunately, most adults do not see alcohol as a drug and therefore they do not educate or give appropriate guidance and advice to their children.
Mr Speaker, a pamphlet entitled Effects of Alcohol states that alcohol is a depressant. I presume that there are not many people who consider it to be a depressant. It slows thinking, reaction and movements. It also alters moods. Long-term effects of alcohol abuse are heart disease; cancer of the colon, throat and mouth; liver disease; ulcers; permanent brain damage; malnutrition; depression; and sexual impotency. The risk of cancer is increased by drinkers who also smoke.
I think they are horrific problems. The community is facing these problems. There are thousands of people out there in the community who, if not affected directly by
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