Page 194 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010

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(2) notes:

(a) the ACT Greens’ September 2009 paper Reducing Alcohol Related Violence: A New Framework for the ACT and subsequent release of the ACT government’s September 2009 paper Review of the Liquor Act 1975 Final Report; and

(b) the time elapsed between the government’s April 2008 Discussion Paper and September 2009 Final Report and its intent to introduce exposure draft legislation early in 2010; and

(3) calls on the ACT government to:

(a) commit to evidence based policies to lower alcohol related violence by introducing a risk based licensing framework;

(b) ensure the operation of live music venues is encouraged and not inappropriately deterred through the risk based licensing framework, given their contribution to a vibrant community;

(i) providing year-round affordable public transport options; and

(ii) investigating the best models of industry supported transport such as venue supplied courtesy transport and industry subsidised transport;

(d) table in the Assembly an exposure draft of legislative changes to the Liquor Act 1975 by the last sitting day in March 2010; and

(e) ensure that:

(i) the public and hospitality staff are fully informed about all proposed changes; and

(ii) the legislation is debated and commenced prior to 1 November 2010, which marks the start of the 2010-11 summer season.

The streets of Canberra at night can be a welcoming and safe place to be. Anyone who attended the Multicultural Festival on Saturday night would agree. During the night, there was an overwhelming sense of colour, movement and enjoyment. People left with a positive buzz and some were even heard to comment, “What a shame it can’t be like this every Saturday night in Canberra.”

And it is a shame that many people are fearful of going out at night in our entertainment areas. There is a fear of unprovoked violence and general antisocial behaviour. Media reports like the one that appeared in the Canberra Times on Saturday morning give people real cause to think twice before heading out. The headline read “Seven locked up after drunken night in Civic” and described a series of alcohol-fuelled fights and forceful arrests.

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