Page 3069 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 September 1993
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Wednesday, 15 September 1993
_____________________________
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms McRae) took the chair at 10.30 am and read the prayer.
PAPER
MR STEVENSON: Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to present a petition which does not conform with standing orders in that it is signed by interstate residents.
Leave granted.
MR STEVENSON: I present an out-of-order petition from 152 residents requesting that the Assembly ban the sale, hire and distribution of X-rated pornographic videos.
CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 4) 1993
MR HUMPHRIES (10.33): Madam Speaker, I present the Crimes (Amendment) Bill (No. 4) 1993.
Title read by Clerk.
MR HUMPHRIES: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
This Bill is one of two measures before the Assembly today to strengthen the capacity of the Australian Federal Police to deal effectively with what is clearly a problem with crime in the ACT. I make no apologies for my party's priority in this respect. In my view and in my party's view, the ACT has the finest police force in the country. It is more than capable of shouldering greater responsibility than has been given to it in the past by either the Assembly or this Government.
Mr Berry: You are joking.
MR HUMPHRIES: I note that the Minister for Health is sceptical of that comment. This Bill confers a simple but essential power on ACT police - that is, a power which many of their interstate colleagues already possess and which I believe is appropriate for the ACT now to consider.
The purpose of this Bill, Madam Speaker, is to empower a police officer to demand the name and address of a person who either is a suspect in a criminal matter or may be able to assist in the investigation of a criminal matter. The power is triggered by a reasonable apprehension that a crime has been, is being or is about to be committed.
Mr Connolly: This is police state stuff, Gary.
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