Page 1462 - Week 05 - Thursday, 12 May 1994
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The young people we spoke to drew attention to the fact that they were always caught in the middle. Sometimes they were forced to pay adult prices for things, but they were not allowed to be adults in other ways because they were restricted from access to other areas. They believed that if restrictions still applied to them at 18 it would be more consistent if they did not have to pay adult prices. The Government response is:
This recommendation is not agreed, on the basis that it is outside the scope of the report.
Response: This recommendation does not pertain to the issue of youth and alcohol and cannot be agreed to in the context of this report.
We knew that. All we did was ask the Government to refer the issue to the Chief Minister's Youth Advisory Council. A more sensible response, rather than that perfunctory statement, would have been appropriate. It was a minor issue, but I believe that we presented a quite sensible way of dealing with an issue that had been raised by a series of young people in interview after interview.
Madam Speaker, I would like to deal with two other issues in the Government response that were raised by both Mr Connolly and Ms Szuty. The first one is the restriction of liquor licensing hours, and the second is the relaxation of licensing laws for young people in restaurants. After our report came down, a series of people came to me with further evidence on the first issue, and I must say that I have changed my position. Contrary to what Mr Connolly said before, I do not actually disagree with Ms Szuty on this one, although I do on the second one. The arguments that Mr Connolly put to us about binge drinking and the problems on the road are quite correct. In fact, having looked at the further evidence, I welcome the Government's response. I believe that you did get it right and that our report is not the correct way to go.
I noticed a report of police comments in the Canberra Times the other day that suggested that most people who are picked up for driving under the influence of alcohol are picked up at about 4 o'clock in the morning. I have to say that I think that is much better than having them picked up between one and 2 o'clock in the morning, when there will be a lot of other people on the road. It has two advantages. Firstly, there will be a limited number of targets around the place for their inappropriate driving; and, secondly, the chances of the police picking up somebody who is drink-driving would probably be much higher, so it would probably allow good use of police resources.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77 as amended by temporary order.
MR BERRY (11.28): Madam Speaker, pursuant to standing order 77(e), I move:
That the time allotted to Assembly business be extended by 30 minutes.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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