ANTI-VIOLENCE COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the minister for substance abuse, a question about the Queensland government's One Punch Can Kill campaign.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On 17 November 2009 I asked the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, in her capacity representing the former minister for substance abuse, to consider the Queensland government's One Punch Can Kill campaign and Victoria's Step Back. Think campaign in any South Australian anti-violence public awareness campaigns.

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan: What extraordinary hypocrisy! You spent the first half of question time attacking us about the liquor licensing matter, and here you are being the greatest—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Finnigan will come to order!

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Thank you, sir, for your protection from ill-informed and ignorant interjections. On 20 January 2010, I received a letter from the then minister for substance abuse advising that she would ask Drug and Alcohol Services SA to consider these campaigns and discuss its implementation with the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner and South Australian police. I recently travelled to Queensland to meet with Queensland police as well as the office of the Queensland Minister for Police regarding the One Punch Can Kill campaign.

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Yes? Do you want to say that out loud?

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I don't care who you are talking to, say it out loud. During these briefings, I was advised that, due to the success of the One Punch Can Kill campaign, the Bligh government has funded a third tranche of funding of a least a further $500,000. In light of this information, I ask the following questions:

1. Is the minister aware of the previous minister's commitment to consider the One Punch Can Kill campaign and future South Australian government anti-violence public awareness campaigns?

2. Is the minister aware that the Bligh government has recently invested a third instalment of at least $500,000 into the One Punch Can Kill campaign due to its success?

3. Given six months have elapsed since the former minister's commitment, can the minister advise the council of the results of the discussions with Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner and South Australian police?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:26): I am very pleased to accept this question. I have to say, being the former minister for substance abuse, I have outlined in this chamber on many occasions details of the extensive drug and alcohol campaigns that this state has put in place. We work very hard and take this issue very seriously.

I have used this figure in this chamber today: alcohol abuse and misuse alone costs this nation $15.3 billion, as I said, and South Australia's share of that is around or over $1 billion, so it is a significant cost to the community. I would hazard a guess that the abuse of these substances has adverse effects that resonate right throughout our community.

Indeed, that is one of the reasons, as the Hon. Bernard Finnigan interjected, why this government has decided to bite the bullet in terms of promoting a series of changes for public consultation, a series of proposals for public consultation, to address alcohol-fuelled behaviour in our pubs and clubs and around our streets.

We are biting the bullet to ensure that we take steps not only to ensure that our children are safe when they are having a night out but that each and every one of us can feel confident, when we have a night out on the town, that we can have a safe and enjoyable night out.