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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1184 ..

MRS LITTLEWOOD (continuing):

and also the new one which is going to be built in Tuggeranong and which I understand is going to be of international standard. I can assure this place that the young people in Tuggeranong are absolutely thrilled. I saw the beaming faces on Tuesday night when they saw the model of the skate park. It was just wonderful. So, Mr Kaine, well done by your department!

Mr Hird: It has nothing to do with the fact that Mr Kaine lives there.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: No. I do wish to encourage young people. I think they do have a rough trot, and I think it is important that we recognise their rights as well.

MR HIRD (4.58): Mr Speaker, I oppose the recommendation embraced in this report and I appeal to other members of this parliament to reject the report. However, I acknowledge the work of two of my colleagues when I was on the committee; that is, Kerrie Tucker, the chair, and Marion Reilly, the deputy chair. I also acknowledge the work of the secretary, Judith Henderson, the researcher and the assistant. I thank them for their assistance during our inquiry. We also appreciated all the submissions that we received from a wide cross-section of the Canberra community.

This report, Mr Speaker, is a cop-out by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. It does nothing to resolve the problem that prompted the inquiry in the first place. The inquiry was instigated in response to a proposal I put forward to introduce legislation banning the use of skateboards within 10 metres of shops. Somewhere along the way the purpose of the inquiry was derailed. The committee got right off the rails. Mr Speaker, the fact remains that skateboards in shopping centres are a menace. Pedestrians are intimidated by them. Elderly people, in particular, are disconcerted by them. They feel unsafe, and with good reason.

The committee has gone to great lengths to point out the needs of young people and has used that as an excuse to evade the real issue, namely, the safety of pedestrians and shoppers - old, young, the lot. Mr Speaker, this is nothing more than a money, money, money report. All it does is tell this parliament that it must spend more money on providing facilities throughout Canberra for skateboard riders.

Debate interrupted.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Stefaniak: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

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