Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Bills Liquor Licensing (Power to Bar) Amendment Bill LIQUOR LICENSING (POWER TO BAR) AMENDMENT BILL Second Reading Second Reading Adjourned debate on second reading. (Continued from 16 October 2008. Page 379.) The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON Legislative Council The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (18:21): I rise briefly to indicate that I will be supporting the second reading of this bill. I met with the Commissioner yesterday and had a briefing with him. I can see absolutely no problems with this bill going through as it is. I indicate that I am pleased that some action is being taken to give bar workers and hotel owners some increased support to be able to bar problematic people for more than six months at a time if necessary, and that we will now have police involvement in that process. I know that I have raised this issue on many occasions, but when I was working in hotels, especially in front bars, it could get quite scary at times. As a manager or duty manager of three different hotels, I was required to ask people to leave. On two occasions these people were associated with motorcycle gangs; and, as members can imagine, it was not a pleasant experience. There was no back-up for me in terms of police or anyone else to help us remove these people. On two occasions even the bouncers in the hotel were reluctant to get involved. All I can say is that I am very pleased. I believe this piece of legislation will also tie in with the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Bill. I urge other members to support this bill to give hotel owners and workers the support they have needed for many years. Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. B.V. Finnigan.