Page 4365 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993
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Mr Berry: Others might call it artists in training.
MR HUMPHRIES: One might call it artists in training. I do not think Mr Berry would dare to distinguish art of any kind from vandalism. Madam Speaker, I believe that this motion of Ms Szuty's is worth supporting - - -
Ms Follett: I have seen some of his painting.
MR HUMPHRIES: You have seen his paintings, have you?
Ms Follett: I have - with a roller, flat white.
MR HUMPHRIES: Perhaps we can arrange a viewing at some stage, Ms Follett.
Mr Lamont: And he is ambidextrous when he does it.
MR HUMPHRIES: Is he really? We will not talk about that. Madam Speaker, I am sure that Mr Berry is a very talented artist, but I think that the problem is those who choose to express themselves outside their own homes. I assume that Mr Berry creates only within the confines of his own home. This motion of Ms Szuty's is worth supporting because I believe that it would have some impact on the extent of illegal and irritating graffiti that we see in this community.
There are many people who, as Mr Connolly quite rightly pointed out, would have no more likelihood of spraying on a wall legally than they would wish to do so illegally, and in those circumstances we would have to expect that those sorts of people would not be reached by initiatives such as this. But there are others who genuinely wish to express themselves, who genuinely have something artistic to say, who I believe would benefit from such a program and who would be prepared to fall into line with this kind of concept and conduct that expression in a way which the community could enjoy and which the community could at the same time regulate.
I oppose much of the wanton graffiti and vandalism which have occurred in our city, and I think we should be taking more direct steps to do something about the problem. This Government, with great respect, despite its comments today, has absolutely nothing to show for its efforts to do something about this problem. This Government, in fact, appears to be willing to do nothing more than pay lip-service to the concept of reducing graffiti and vandalism in this community.
Members will recall that I asked the Attorney-General, in a question on notice some time ago, about how much it is costing our community to deal with the removal of graffiti and spray painted vandalism on our public places. Mr Connolly, the Minister for Urban Services, did not know. He did not have a clue. He said, "I do not know how much it costs us to remove that sort of stuff". Madam Speaker, that is the extent of this Government's understanding of this problem. They say, "We do not know how much it is costing us. We do not know how much it would cost to do something about it". I think that there is a better response than that. We can take a slightly more active response than that and do something about directing some of these energies of young people in the community in a constructive and controlled way. For that reason I think that there is some benefit to be gained.
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