Page 2846 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 September 1994
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Obviously, from a fire perspective, if there are more exits, then there should be a difference in the number of people allowed into the place, rather than it being based just on the load limits. There is no doubt that the letter that Mr Connolly tabled from the assisting commissioner of police, the Chief Police Officer for the ACT, Mr Dawson, says, "It is my view that the occupancy loading limits are appropriately set and should remain". Of course, what he has seen is a significant drop from the way they were prior to the legislation that we passed earlier.
That being the case, of course, what we have not tested, or what the assistant commissioner has not tested, is the impact it would have with the amendments presented by Mrs Carnell, which do not take us back to the original situation prior to that legislation last year, I think it was.
Mr Connolly: That was in the context of "Should we change?".
MR MOORE: Granted, it was in the context of "Should we change?". The other thing that the assistant commissioner drew attention to, in terms of public order, of course, was the issue of the extended lines outside the premises, the extra queuing, and the increase in the number of patrons queuing outside the licensed premises. He also added that it seemed that the same number of people were still coming into Civic.
What we have is a situation of a limited number of premises, the same number of people coming into Civic, and a limited number of people in each of the premises who spread themselves out. In due time, no doubt, business being business and with the market operating, there will be more premises open to cater for those people. I think, in terms of public order, there are questions about the impact on people who had gone to Civic specifically, as an example, to go to one of these premises, and who were not able to get in there. This could exacerbate some of the other problems within the Civic area. The assistant commissioner has taken those things into account and still makes his recommendation about public order. I must say that I find persuasive Mrs Carnell's argument that the police will always go for a situation which provides the most order, because that is part of their job. But we have a responsibility to assess that against allowing people to be free to do what they wish to do.
Those are the issues that I am still wrestling with. At this stage, I do not think the Government's arguments have been persuasive enough; but Mr Berry says that he has another point to raise, and I am willing to listen to it.
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: Mr Acting Speaker, I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
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