Page 1460 - Week 05 - Thursday, 12 May 1994
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I have certainly had representations, as I am sure other members of this house have, from people who, at the age of 18 - and I have no doubt that more than normal are in this situation, thanks to the Labor Government's recession - did not have a motor vehicle because they could not afford one or, in some cases, because they did not see the need for one, which meant of course that they had no identification of the type that is needed as proof of age. In other words, they did not have a photographic drivers licence.
The evidence presented to me indicates that these young people were finding that even the birth certificates that they were carrying around were simply not acceptable. This is hardly surprising because it seems to me that, despite the efforts of governments to make birth certificates extremely difficult to obtain, this applies only to honest people. Those who are dishonest do not seem to have any trouble in obtaining false identification - getting passports, et cetera - with false birth certificates. Assuming that an 18-year-old did have a passport - and I would suggest to you that there would not be too many in the ACT or, for that matter, Australia who would have a passport - who wants to carry a passport around every day of the week or every time you want to go into licensed premises to have a drink or to mix with your friends?
I welcome the Government's about-face on this matter. I am sure that it will be welcomed by all young people in this Territory. I think it is a pity that you wasted so much time and were misled - that is the kindest word I can use - by civil liberties considerations which I do not believe, from my experience in talking with young people, had any relevance whatsoever in this matter.
MR MOORE (11.19), in reply: Madam Speaker, I would like to begin my closing speech by referring to the education issues, which I think are some of the most important issues involved in dealing with young people and alcohol. In paragraph 3.6 on page 17 of our report we talk about a draft health and education curriculum framework. We say:
The framework is designed to provide students, from Kindergarten to Year 12, with appropriate levels of knowledge and skills and the opportunities to develop values and attitudes needed to make informed decisions and act appropriately in a variety of situations. The framework is considered essential in the health and education environment as it empowers students to have more control over their own lives.
It was really that concept that formed the basis of the committee's thinking. Mr Connolly was quite correct in saying that the issue of young people in restaurants was the basis of the thinking that led to that recommendation. I will come to that recommendation in a short while.
Education strategies, Madam Speaker, as you would be well aware, certainly cannot be based on a simplistic approach that says, "This is what alcohol does. This is what will happen to you if it is used incorrectly or inappropriately". That may be a small part of the strategy, but it is not enough on its own. In the final report of the Drugs Committee,
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