Page 4568 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 20 November 1991
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DR KINLOCH, by leave: I raise my wholly water glass to Mr Stefaniak. He is usually quiet and pleasant and thoughtful in all that he does; then he magnificently gets stirred up on issues like this, and I congratulate him for it.
Turning to the public behaviour report, headed by Mr Wood, there was much discussion of the very points that Mr Stefaniak has raised. Mr Stevenson and I put in a dissenting report urging the very point that Mr Stefaniak is now putting, that is, limiting the licensing hours. We would like to see that as part of the process that the Labor Party is considering.
I wish to offer congratulations when something is done that most of us can feel pleased about. I think we should say to the Labor Party, "Thank you at least for doing some of the things that are in this statement". Also, though, one needs to look at the problem of tightening up the sources of supply. I cannot really agree that the root causes are being addressed in this small paper, useful though it is in some respects. The root causes go far beyond anything that is said here. It is for that reason that you need a far deeper inquiry than is possible here.
MR COLLAERY, by leave: I remind members that all was said in relation to this in the great debate on 12 September on the alcohol problem. It is quite ironic that Mr Connolly should table today the annual report of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. I invite members, as I did last year and the year before, to look at the appendix. In this case it is at page 24. I will take you through just an inkling of what is going on in the city, in Phillip and in Belconnen as a result of alcohol problems.
The first matter is No. 74/87 and $1,785 was awarded. It involved the Private Bin again. Again, every year, a girl is assaulted. Turn the page to matter No. 16/88. It involved a club in Belconnen and $1,500 compensation. No. 54/88 involved Carosello's Disco in Phillip and compensation of $4,762. All of these cases involve alcohol related violence. The next one, No. 91/88, was at a Belconnen club, and the award was $3,769. It goes on and on and on; all of it to do with clubs and alcohol, and all that we have been saying in this chamber now. I invite members to go through the report. I will not delay the chamber. I have marked them, but I have not had a chance to add up the cost. I did mention in this chamber when I was the Attorney that perhaps we should look at the prospect of a special levy on some of these quick-rich discos.
As far as I understand it, the Australian Hotels Association supported our call for an inquiry, and I think I know why. The hotels, by and large, are well-run, well-regulated and disciplined. They are in a position to put on this type of disco entertainment in more ordered and supervised surroundings, by and large, than some of these quick-rich discos, one of which, I remind members, we found
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