Late Night trading Code of Practice

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:00): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house as to how effective the late night code has been in reducing violence in the CBD?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (15:00): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. The Late Night Trading Code of Practice came into operation on 1 October.

Mr GARDNER: I have a point of order, sir. This appears to be a matter that is related to a matter on the Notice Paper for the next Wednesday of sitting in relation to a report from the Social Development Committee and I am wondering if it is appropriate to go into such matters.

The SPEAKER: The Social Development Committee, member for Morialta, is reporting on the sale of consumption of alcohol in general. Attorney-General.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, sometimes it is hard to make people appreciate good news and that is what we have got here. We have got good news.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As I was saying before I was interrupted, the code came into operation on 1 October 2013. It was, as you would be aware, Mr Speaker, opposed by a number of people.

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: Really?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Indeed, yes, a number.

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: Who would oppose such sensible legislation?

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Health is warned for the first time, although I would like him, the Attorney-General, to name them.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Are you asking me to name them?

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am happy, if necessary. I can go into some detail. The opposition took some persuasion, I have to say, Mr Speaker, and there was in fact a disallowance motion in the other place, if I recall correctly, about this very code on the basis that it was the inalienable right of all citizens to get hopelessly drunk after 3 o'clock in the morning whilst bar-hopping.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The member for Newland has taken the words out of my mouth. In fact, it was actually said, I believe, in the opposition party room that we hold these truths self-evident: that to consume copious amounts of alcohol and fall over dead drunk in the street is an inalienable right guaranteed by our constitution. But I digress slightly, Mr Speaker.

The code was designed to particularly apply to late-night venues, obviously, that trade between 3am and 7am, with measures specifically aimed at curbing alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. The new measures contained in the code include restrictions on the service of shooters and doubles, the presence of drink marshals within venues and a lockout restricting entry after 3am. In other words, if you haven't got enough into your system by 3 o'clock, stay where you are and keep going, but don't try to jump around and go to some other place.

All of these are measures designed to encourage a culture of responsible service, slow down alcohol consumption and change behaviour. Here are the statistics. This is the bit that actually demonstrates how important this measure was. Between 1 October 2013 and 30 June 2014, there was a 20.64 per cent—I am going to read that again, 20.64 per cent—drop in offences against good order. There was a 10.1 per cent drop in offences against the person and a 13.56 per cent drop in violent assaults when compared with the corresponding period the year before.

It is a fantastic outcome, and good for the public hospital system as well. Since the implementation of the late night code the number of early morning related presentations to the Royal Adelaide Hospital has also reduced considerably, lifting pressure on an important public institution. This data shows that the late night code has been effective in reducing antisocial behaviour associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol.