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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3430 ..

Police escorting clients to the Sobering Up Shelter will remain there until the clients are received and either give consent or decline to be searched.

No intoxicated persons will be admitted to the Shelter unless they have undergone a search by Shelter staff and agree to have items taken for safekeeping.

Likewise, persons with apparent health conditions or who are violent or found to be in possession of prohibited substances and weapons will not be admitted to the Shelter. These individuals will be referred, as appropriate, either to the Police or for medical attention.

Mr Speaker, this bill is the first of a number of steps necessary to establish the new ACT Sobering Up Shelter.

It is the result of a substantial period of consultation with experts in the drug and alcohol, law enforcement and community services fields - largely in the forum of the Sobering Up Shelter Steering Committee which has been considering this matter with great care.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all representatives that served on the Sobering Up Shelter Steering Committee.

Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the house.

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