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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 615 ..

Motion (by Mr Berry) put:

That the debate be adjourned.

The Assembly voted -

	AYES, 7 	NOES, 10

	Mr Berry	Mrs Carnell
	Mr Corbell	Mr Cornwell
	Ms McRae	Mr Hird
	Mr Moore	Ms Horodny
	Ms Reilly	Mr Humphries
	Mr Whitecross	Mr Kaine
	Mr Wood		Mrs Littlewood
			Mr Osborne
			Mr Stefaniak
			Ms Tucker

MS TUCKER (6.19): Mr Speaker, the Greens will be supporting this Bill. We believe it is appropriate to make sure that the current tabletop dancing venue should be relocated, because we agree with the general principle that sexually explicit entertainment particularly should be confined to prescribed areas. It is a fine line as to whether legislatures should step in to regulate entertainment; but I think everyone here would agree that, if this Assembly has already decided that such activities are better kept in particular areas, it would be consistent to ensure that tabletop dancing and such activities are also in those same areas.

Mr Moore: No, we do not all agree.

MS TUCKER: I take Mr Moore's point. He is saying that he does not agree. I am happy to have another debate on another occasion about whether or not these sorts of activities should be more generally distributed throughout the ACT. I do not have a fixed position on it, but what I do see a problem with is where you allow some activities like this in the city. Let us be honest: They are about stimulating people. There is no outlet in the city, so why not keep it consistent at this point? I can understand why people have a genuine concern about safety in Civic, even at the moment. I do not think it is going to make people feel any safer knowing that right now in Civic men can go and get very drunk, they can sit down and be very stimulated, and then they can just walk the streets of Civic. What are they going to do? Drive to Fyshwick?

I have been lobbied by women's groups on this. I am surprised the Labor Party is taking the line they are, because I assume they would have been lobbied by the women's groups as well. I am also interested to see that the Eros Foundation has supported this Bill.

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