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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 3165 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

From time to time there is an increase in burglary, for example, and that is well managed by the police. Operation Halite and other operations significantly reduced the amount of burglary. There are changes, there are variations over time, in the pattern of crime, to which the AFP responds very well indeed. I am assured they have the numbers they need to manage the circumstances that arise.

Liquor licensing

MS DUNDAS: My question is to the minister for policing. Minister, as you would be aware, there have been a number of alcohol-related violence incidents in Civic over the last number of months. Can you inform the Assembly how many people are employed by the ACT government to enforce liquor licence conditions in the ACT and, in particular, the responsible service of alcohol?

MR WOOD: Liquor licensing is a matter for the Chief Minister, but it is also a matter that the police do not turn away from. They have had an active presence, for example, in clubs in recent times, more related to their target of preventing drink driving. But they are out in the clubs notifying people of their presence and, at the same time, they are aware of any incident that arises, whether in the clubs or in the neighbourhood. The police are very active.

On Mr Stanhope's behalf, unless he wants to respond, I will get details about the licensing arrangements that apply.

Mr Stanhope: I do not have any more.

MR WOOD: I will do that.

MS DUNDAS: I have a supplementary question. Minister, I understand that in New South Wales there are licensing police who are being trained to deal specifically with alcohol-related violence incidents. Is the ACT considering having a similar scheme?

MR WOOD: I have not had any advice from the Chief Police Officer to that effect in our discussions on these issues, but I will seek information on whether anything is happening in that area. I have not heard of it.

Disability services

MRS BURKE: My question is for the minister for disability, Mr Wood. Minister, I refer to the August 2003 edition of ACROD News, where it is stated that various aspects of the new structure of Disability ACT "have been communicated to members of the community sector who happened to be in the right place at the right time but little effort has been made to keep the sector as a whole informed in any coordinated or coherent way".

Can the minister explain exactly the information flow that is being communicated-to whom and when-in relation to the development of the new strategic plan for the sector?

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