Page 1255 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 2013
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MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
Mr GENTLEMAN: Attorney, what are the penalties for exceeding an occupancy loading, and what are the risks posed in exceeding an occupancy loading in the circumstances raised in these newspaper reports?
MR CORBELL: Again, I thank Mr Gentleman for the question. Of course, there are a range of risks posed in exceeding an occupancy loading. First and foremost you could face a strict liability offence under the Liquor Act 2010. The maximum penalty for exceeding an occupancy loading is 50 penalty units. A penalty unit is $110 for an individual and $550 for a corporation and is liable to the licensed premise.
But, of course, there are other risks posed in exceeding an occupancy loading in the circumstances raised in these newspaper reports. The first is the potential embarrassment of losing one’s endorsement as a Senate candidate. Of course, another risk is the even more embarrassing prospect that one’s former leader remains on one’s backbench despite efforts to the contrary to exit this place. So there are clearly a range of risks—
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Just by rising to your feet, Mr Hanson, does not let me know what you want. Are you raising a point of order?
Mr Hanson: On a point of order, Madam Acting Speaker, I ask that you—
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please.
Mr Hanson: consider whether these are matters that relate to the minister’s portfolio. They are matters internal to the Liberal Party. I ask whether, under the standing orders governing question time, the answer and, indeed, the question are relevant in this case to the minister’s portfolio.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Attorney, I actually think it is stretching it a little bit. I do not think a matter in relation to whether someone is preselected or not has anything to do with the occupancy of a building and the safety of the patrons within it. If you could come back to the subject, please.
MR CORBELL: Madam Acting Speaker, exceeding an occupancy loading is a serious matter. It puts a whole range of things at risk—potentially the safety of those attending the venue and, of course, not just their physical safety but, in the circumstances described in the article Mr Gentleman is referring to, perhaps their political safety or future prospects. These are all matters that need to be properly and seriously taken into account.
MR SMYTH: Supplementary, Madam Acting Speaker.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, supplementary.
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