Page 787 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 1 April 2008
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on-the-spot fines there for people being horribly offensive. People may be fighting in there.
It is a very useful tool that can be effectively utilised basically anywhere where people are congregated, usually in nightspots where alcohol is fuelling very bad behaviour. It saves everyone the trouble. It saves the hours it takes for a policeman to go off and charge them. It saves the hours they might have to spend in court, and it saves the defendant all of that, too. The defendant, invariably, in most instances, will be more than happy just to pay it, probably feeling that they have made a goose of themselves and at least it does not appear on their record.
It is a win-win situation for everyone in the community, and I think you completely miss the point by not accepting these two very sensible amendments which really enhance your legislation. I can understand why you do not—on ideological grounds—but you are letting down the men and women of the Australian Federal Police. You are letting down victims on the street who are going to have to suffer, the vast majority of ordinary, law-abiding citizens who enjoy themselves. You are even letting down the very defendants you are trying to actually help by supposedly not accepting these amendments.
Question put:
That amendments Nos 1 and 2 be agreed to.
The Assembly voted—
|
Ayes 7 |
Noes 10 | ||
|
Mrs Burke |
Mr Smyth |
Mr Barr |
Mr Gentleman |
|
Mrs Dunne |
Mr Stefaniak |
Mr Berry |
Mr Hargreaves |
|
Mr Mulcahy |
Mr Corbell |
Ms MacDonald | |
|
Mr Pratt |
Dr Foskey |
Ms Porter | |
|
Mr Seselja |
Ms Gallagher |
Mr Stanhope | |
Question so resolved in the negative.
Proposed new clause 18 negatived.
Proposed new schedule 1 negatived.
Title agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Standing Orders—Suspension
Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No 23, Private Members’ business relating to the Crimes (Street Offences) Amendment Bill 2007, being called on forthwith.
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