Late Night Trading Code of Practice

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:42): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Business Services and Consumers a question about initiatives to keep this state vibrant and progressive.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: A vibrant capital city is one of the keys to a confident and progressive state and, as I have said before, many have declared Adelaide to be one of the best cities in the world. Can the minister update the chamber on some initiatives that will keep South Australia vibrant and ensure progress continues?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. For Adelaide to remain a vibrant city it must be safe, and that is why we have introduced measures to crack down on alcohol-fuelled abuse and violence in and around our licensed venues. We believe this contributes to a vibrant city that all South Australians can enjoy.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The late night code demonstrates—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway, you are out of order.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —the commitment this government has made to its strategic priorities of creating a vibrant city and safe communities and healthy neighbourhoods. What we have seen since the code was implemented is that it has been working as intended. We have seen a drop in assaults and antisocial behaviour, and the data from the Royal Adelaide Hospital shows a drop in alcohol-related emergency department presentations.

Members may also be aware that an independent review of both the general and late night codes of practice are currently under way. A final report will be provided to the government by mid-2015, and the findings will be reported to parliament.

As well as creating a safe environment it is also crucial that we continue to rejuvenate the CBD to encourage more people to move into what the honourable member rightly refers to as one of the best smaller cities in the world. In fact, the initiatives this government has put in place, such as our reforms to the liquor licensing legislation with respect to small venues, has contributed to this great city being recognised internationally.

Members might be aware that in January this year The New York Times recognised the value of our small bars in adding vibrancy and attracting people to our city. The new licence type was aimed at cutting red tape for small business and allowing them to open their doors, avoiding thousands of dollars in legal fees and other red tape, a common problem for these types of establishments.

Small bars have seen some great success stories. However, this initiative was not supported across the board when it was first proposed. This government has a vision, and it is about protecting the way of life that we value and about opening the door to new ideas, new opportunities, new people and new businesses. This is a government which has a positive agenda for this state and which refused to listen to the naysayers when we put the small venue legislation through parliament.

While small bars have already delivered some really promising results, the government has decided that the initiative needs to keep the momentum focused on and around the CBD for a further 12 months before considering expanding it to other precincts. Winning the so-called unwinnable election has not slowed us down. It has only given us the drive to push ahead and build on our existing initiatives.

Members also would be aware that I recently announced that the government is drafting an amendment to the Liquor Licensing Act in relation to entertainment consent, an initiative that has been supported by the Hon. Tammy Franks. These changes propose to reform the way entertainment consent is applied across the state and to remove this burdensome process. That does away with red tape and saves businesses time and money.

The changes announced by the government will provide licensees with more flexibility in relation to entertainment and encourage an appreciation for not only music but also the arts. This proposal will make it easier for a licensed cafe or restaurant to have, for instance, a violinist or an acoustic guitarist in the background, dancing, an art exhibition or a themed restaurant with performers—from jazz to latin, blues, dance or folk music. The possibilities are endless, and I look forward to seeing some of the creative ideas that may stem from this within the hospitality and catering and restaurant industries. There is a different genre theme to cater for almost everybody. This proposal is part of a broader agenda which underpins this government's commitment to live music.

This government has also introduced a range of other initiatives to support small business. We are rolling out the most significant reform of WorkCover in more than 25 years. It will save registered businesses around $180 million a year. One of the key functions of the government is to remove barriers for the business community, which is why the government created a simpler regulation unit. This unit is tasked to remove or improve regulation so that business can better support jobs growth.

This government had a bold vision and was prepared to take bold actions and seize opportunities. We are prepared to try new things, even though some might not go to plan. This government is committed to working with business and the community to make sure that South Australia works to its strengths and prospers in the global economy.