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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [10.58 a.m.]: I share the determination of my community of Manly to see pubs closing earlier than they do currently. We need to change the culture not only in Manly but across this State from one where violence on our streets is seen as the norm to one where entertainment and the community lifestyle is preserved and people can safely enjoy a night out. I note that hotels are an important part of the local economy and the community lifestyle that we enjoy, particularly in Manly.
Revelations about the influence of donations and lobbyists have been a regular feature of this debate, and this has fuelled community cynicism. I understand that. In my inaugural speech I said proudly that I would always put my community first and that it would guide every step that I made in this Chamber. The community certainly guides every step of my working life as I try to represent it, and I speak for it, first and foremost, on this matter. I also spoke strongly about donation reform. That is why I am proud that the Leader of the Opposition, Barry O'Farrell, has put forward a detailed, comprehensive campaign finance reform package. Should the Coalition be elected, changes will be made to address much of the community cynicism that has fuelled not just this debate but other debates across various issues. Under Barry O'Farrell, things will change.
Today I ask the industry and the Government to listen to what my community has to say about pub closing times. The community has put forward a petition, which has been supported across the political spectrum. The petition calls for support for the joint effort of Manly Police and Manly Council to require pubs to cease serving alcohol no later than 2.00 a.m. and to close no later than 2.30 a.m. This follows a trial that was undertaken about 18 months ago for three or four months, which resulted in a plummet in assault rates. We want to return to that position and see the rates of assaults continue to fall in a dramatic fashion. The petition was initiated by community members Richard Hewitt and Tim Fiddes, and it is backed by my good friend the Mayor of Manly, Jean Hay, and Greens, Labor and Independent councillors Cathy Griffin, Craig Whitting and Peter Macdonald.
The Manly Safety Committee meeting was told last week that the Government's latest initiative, the Manly Community Safety Partnership, has fizzled. The Manly Community Safety Partnership was launched in the Corso with much fanfare by the Minister for Gaming and Racing last October, but it has been replaced by a Manly Precinct Liquor Accord. The meeting was called at very short notice with no agenda and no plan and the Council was asked by the Government to adhere to actions that it had been implementing already—in fact, many of them have been in place for many years.
Yesterday I spoke on the Appropriation (Budget Variations) Bill 2010. The Government has asked for an additional $1.48 billion it has spent outside the budget, and part of that amount, $444,000, is overspending on its Hassle Free Nights campaign, with big glossy brochures and postcards about the Manly Precinct Liquor Accord. But they are token measures that do not address the real issues.
There is silence in relation to closing times. Indeed, a closing time of 3.00 a.m. has been recommended, which is not what the community wants. The community wants a 2.00 a.m. finish for the serving of alcohol and a 2.30 a.m. closing time. We do not need token brochures at taxpayers' expense to make it look as though the Government is doing something about closing times when it is doing very little. There is nothing new in this campaign that has not been done in the Manly community for a considerable period, and we are sick to death of the spin that goes with it.
The police have asked for the changes and the council and all political persuasions support them. We are asking the Government to listen to what the community is saying. In the past year there has been a reduction in assaults, but the dramatic reduction during the trial of the earlier closing time is what we want to replicate. We say give it 12 months to see if that has the sort of impact in the community that we want to see. We also note that a section 79 submission was put in a year ago and that we are yet to see any action from the department. I acknowledge that there are good local hoteliers and that, for the most part, they listen to the community at every opportunity. Some of the local hotels have new ownership. Here is an opportunity for them to join in and listen to what the community is saying.
Last Sunday the Leader of the Opposition announced the Making Our Streets Safe Again plan. We support strengthening existing move-on powers, introducing a new offence of drunk and disorderly conduct and piloting sobering-up centres. But is the Government listening to the community? We have put forward some practical plans and, in the case of Manly, we are calling for earlier closing times to supplement all the initiatives that are underway. I believe that will deliver real community outcomes.
To sign the petition, please visit Mike's office at 2 Wentworth Street Manly
or look out for the petition in the Manly CBD
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