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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (20 June) . . Page.. 2273 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

professional development, would not be a bad thing if people are having to do that, because you can inflame situations unnecessarily if you are not aware of the different ways that you can handle these sorts of situations.

Having said that, I will not move the amendment and I will support this bill, but I think we need to keep an eye on it. Perhaps the minister could respond to that suggestion I just made and see if that could be moved through the system, so that if this broad power is delegated there is at least the opportunity for people to access some kind of professional development on how to defuse situations rather than inflame them.

MR BERRY (11.29), in reply: I have just been given bad news. Mr Rugendyke does not want to bring on his Adult Entertainment and Restricted Material Bill. I am so disappointed.

I want to thank members for their support for this piece of legislation. It had been requested by people interested in school security, and it will, I trust, make it easier for teachers to deal with problems around school premises.

Mr Stefaniak characterised this as a law and order bill, and I must say that that made me somewhat nervous. I quickly searched through it to see if there were any summary offences or any confiscation rights or any penalties for having your hat on backwards, and I am pleased to report that this is about as strong as you will see from me when it comes to the issue of law and order. It essentially goes to the issue of the matter being reported to the courts. I think that is where penalties ought to be determined. Wherever possible, I think, summary convictions are things that ought to be avoided at all costs. In the general sense I do not think they do anything for the community, and I do not think they help the police that much anyway.

Mr Speaker, I just repeat my thanks to members. I note what Ms Tucker has said and I think she is right. She is right to suggest that this ought to be watched with a careful eye to ensure that there are no practical difficulties that emerge, either for teachers or people who might be affected by this law. If it is found that somebody is treated unreasonably in relation to this law, then obviously it will have to be finetuned to sort that issue out, as is always the case with new laws whenever we introduce them here. Once again, members, thank you for your support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Adjournment

Motion (by Mr Smyth) negatived:

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