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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 983 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

the civil liberties of ordinary people, of ordinary young people, of some people whom you ordinarily would not like much but who, nevertheless, have civil liberties which are precious and ought not to be discarded in the shabby way that is being attempted in this matter.

These are dumb laws which have been proven in the ACT in the past not to work. The Government's own figures demonstrate to us that at least 2,600 people were moved on, most of whom would be antagonistic to police, as was properly said by my - - -

Mr Hird: Rubbish!

MR BERRY: You would know a lot about it, Harold!

Mr Hird: I do. Thank goodness I do know something about it. I ran a shopping centre, which you know I ran, and I had a problem.

MR BERRY: If you had a problem, why did you not call the police and get them to arrest someone?

Mr Hird: They could not do anything about it. They needed move-on powers. You would know that. You raised the question; I am telling you.

MR BERRY: You would not know, Harold.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR BERRY: Come over here and make me look good. I like that one, Ossie. Can I use it again?

Mr Osborne: There are 10,000 comedians out of work and you are trying to be funny.

MR BERRY: I like that one. It was not mine; it was Paul Osborne's. I think it is a beauty.

Mr Speaker, the policeman's lot is a difficult one and much care has to be taken to ensure that the police have proper authority to deal with crime in society and to protect society as a whole. But they also have a role in improving it. Mr Speaker, in some cases this might make the job a bit easier for the policeman; but the trade-off of civil liberties of our community, particularly the young and disadvantaged in our community, is just not worth it.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to speak again on this matter.

Leave not granted.

Motion (by Mr Humphries) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Humphries again addressing the Assembly.

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