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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-09 Daily Xml
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GRAFFITI VANDALISM

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:38): My question is to the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Sit down, member for Mawson. We will just have a little sit for a while until they calm down.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right also! Member for Mawson.

Mr BIGNELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house about new proposals to reduce graffiti vandalism and its impact on the community?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Food Marketing) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for the question. I know this is something that has been a matter of interest to him. The member for Fisher, of course, has been a long-time campaigner on the issue of graffiti vandalism. He has been tireless in this regard, and I will welcome his participation in the process I am about to speak about.

South Australia has been a leader around Australia in attempting to combat graffiti vandalism. We were the first jurisdiction to introduce legislation specifically addressing the problem of graffiti. The government has also been tackling this costly and unsightly problem by supporting grassroots crime prevention.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I don't want to miss anything because I would hate you to miss out on it. There is some important stuff coming, so pay attention. The government has increased funding through the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Grants Program in 2010 and 2011, including extra funding for graffiti prevention programs.

Following on from our election commitment to reduce graffiti, the government has also decided to review the Graffiti Control Act—and this is the bit that I think the member for Fisher might be interested in. Today I have released a consultation paper on graffiti, and it will be in everyone's pigeon hole so I encourage all members to have a read of it. This floats a range of possible changes to legislation, including:

increased penalties for graffiti offences;

introducing expiation notices for graffiti offences; and

introducing aggravated graffiti offences for graffiti marked on memorials, cemeteries, places of worship or in the presence of a minor.

The paper is also discussing options for further restricting the tools of graffiti (and I know this is a matter that the member for Fisher has been interested in), including restricting the display of graffiti implements and advertisements for graffiti implements that promote unlawful graffiti. Of course, not all graffiti is unlawful.

Another possible reform would be to give the police greater powers to seize graffiti tools from minors without resorting to arrest and possible charges. In tackling the problem I want to make sure that we use the most effective measures. I also want to make sure that we strike a balance between addressing damaging behaviours and regulating in a way that does not impact too greatly on business that legitimately trades in these items.

I welcome community feedback on these ideas and encourage all interested people (including, of course, the member for Fisher) to read the discussion paper and provide their ideas. We will be distributing the paper to a range of people who are interested, as I said, including members of this parliament, local councils and retail associations. Comments will be received until 23 March 2011. The member for Unley, put 23 March 2011 in your diary. That is two days before you comment on the independent review on corruption and so forth in South Australia.

After considering feedback, the government will proceed with amendments to the legislation. I am determined that the reforms will keep South Australia at the forefront of anti-graffiti measures. I think it is important that members of the opposition who think it is unwise for us to consult on these issues should consider that consulting with the public to get it right is never a bad thing, and we do not mind doing it.

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