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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3393 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

in policing antisocial behaviour and breaches of the Liquor Act. I wish to acknowledge, too, the support given by business and community representatives, who have worked through the community safety committees and the public place precinct management groups, enabling them to take an active role in community crime prevention at the local level.

The Assembly is also aware that we have adopted other initiatives, including amendments to the Liquor Act, the promotion of responsible serving of alcohol courses for licensees, the trial of the early closing of licensed premises, and the design and safety measures of upgrading lighting and the general refurbishment of public places in Civic. Outcomes from community focused groups held recently clearly showed that the community ranked "safe community" as the second most important value factor behind "community spirit" in what was important to them as citizens of the ACT. It is therefore the responsibility of all sectors of the community to be involved in crime prevention. I am sure all members share this view, and I assure the Assembly that we will continue to encourage active community involvement in our efforts to combat crime and promote a safer ACT.

Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.

Debate resumed.

MS McRAE (3.48): Mr Speaker, I have circulated an amendment to the motion. I have changed a few of the words, but the intent is the same as that of my previous amendment. I move:

Omit the words after "That this Assembly require the Government to", substitute "undertake appropriate consultation in regard to any new use (ie multipurpose sports stadium or in other words new Public Works) on the lakes and their foreshores as well as the ACT".

As Mr Moore quite rightly said this morning, this amendment and the motion have far more to do with consultation than with the substantive issues of what is happening on our lakes or is proposed for our streets. The issue comes back to consultation. Everyone in the Assembly chooses to define "consultation" in their own way. We hear repeatedly from Mrs Carnell that "consultation" means that Ministers are available for half a day to go and talk to the community. There is no problem with that. It is very nice, and it means we get them out of the Assembly for at least half a day once a month. They are not troubling us here. It is no problem at all for the rest of us. But in my book that does not add up to much more than half a day once a month for the general public to meet with Ministers. It is only one element of what consultation is all about, although I grant that it is probably an important and useful element for the few people who manage to line up and speak to the Ministers.

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