Page 1474 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 April 2005
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course, they have the power, the ability, the training and the skills to take appropriate action should they come across abusive, aggressive, obnoxious drunks or other trouble in these establishments.
It was unanimous, from the various industry representatives at this forum, that the police should take over that particular task. Some of the people who have been licensing inspectors might not necessarily disagree with that. I do not have a completely fixed view on that. I hear what they say. I would commend that to the government just to have a look at, because there are some very real safety issues. I suppose these days you would call them very real occupational health and safety issues in relation to the people who are liquor inspectors and who, from time to time, will find themselves in situations like that. Really, there is an unsatisfactory element in relation to that, which clearly is annoying the industry. I think that is an important issue. Of course, we do not, unfortunately, have too many police in the territory, and that might be a problem itself. But I commend that to Ms MacDonald and her government.
Finally, another complaint was that people in the industry do not see the inspectors unless there is some problem. The ones in the industry in the past said the police often would just turn up, have a chat and see how things were going. I would encourage at least the liquor licensing people to turn up, just have a chat, make contact with people in the industry—not because there might be some problem but just to see how things are going, see if there is anything they can do to assist. I think that would help establish a better rapport. That in itself might help alleviate a few of the problems expressed to me by hotel owners, entertainment venues and indeed the clubs.
As someone who has had a lot to do with the office, yes, I can certainly say that it has done some excellent things, but I have a number of complaints. I have put those on the record. I commend the government to take some action to alleviate those concerns. I think you would be helping the Office of Fair Trading as much as you would be helping the people in the industry.
At 6.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly was put.
Adjournment
Health—radiation oncology
MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (6.00): Mr Deputy Speaker, on Thursday, 17 March 2005, after question time, Mr Corbell gave some further information relating to the booking system for radio therapy treatment. This information contradicted what he had told the house on Tuesday, 15 March. On Tuesday, full of zeal and self-praise for the wonderful job being done in radio oncology, the minister told us:
The current computerised planning system used for planning radiotherapy treatments is an old one and the government has committed funds to providing a new system, which will mean that the planning of radiotherapy treatments can occur more quickly. That will mean that more treatments can be provided within the same timeframe.
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