HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-24 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

GRAFFITI VANDALISM

Ms FOX (Bright) (14:37): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house about the progress of community consultation on graffiti reforms and the benefits of thorough consultation?

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) (14:37): I thank the honourable member very much and I note that she has been very interested and engaged in discussions about many matters of interest to her community, including of course this important issue of graffiti.

On 9 February this year we released the graffiti discussion paper, and the discussion paper, as I am sure those members who have read it would know, raised a number of matters for discussion: increasing penalties for graffiti offences; introducing expiation notices for graffiti offences; the introduction of aggravated graffiti offences (for graffiti marked on memorials, in cemeteries or places of worship); restricting the supply of spray paint cans and graffiti implements to minors; introducing a ban on advertising graffiti implements that promote unlawful graffiti; defining a spray can and spray can paint; allowing courts to order offenders to take part in graffiti removal programs; and giving police greater powers to seize graffiti tools from minors without resorting to an arrest and possible charges.

I advise parliament that, as of yesterday when submissions closed, there had been received 27 submissions, and we will be having public meetings to further discuss these matters with members of the community. I know the member for Taylor has also been involved in this and we will have a meeting out there shortly.

I anticipate that a final bill will be completed and introduced shortly. I also note that, recently, I have been subjected to quite savage criticism on the basis that I have been charged as an offender against the principle that one should not consult. I plead guilty to that. I am a serial consulter. I am afraid that, as a result of consulting, I believe that we get a better product. The Hon. Mr Wade, in another place, has said, 'It is a terrible thing. Here is the Attorney out consulting about things.' He said I am consulting about 12 things, but it is actually more than that: it is 14—although now this one is closed, so the consulting bid is over and he can take it off his list.

This government is actually interested in getting good quality consultation and good quality bills before the parliament, even though it does not really matter because when they get here things happen in another place which mean that they never move anywhere. The other interesting thing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —I would like to draw to members' attention is that the same person who has been criticising the government for consultation wrote to me as recently as 21 March demanding that I undergo extensive consultation on issues relating to the legal profession reform. So, I am actually a bit puzzled as to whether I am supposed to be consulting or not consulting.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I hadn't either until I got this missive. I hope he will work out where he stands on these things in due course. We are very clear where we stand. We are going to consult. We think it is important to get things right. The sentencing bill, which will be introduced today, has been the subject of extensive consultation.

Ms Chapman: Is that photographic line-ups?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Photographic line-ups is the question. I think the consultation in relation to that one was called the 2010 election.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: You are either interested in the answer or not. If you care to have a look at the excellent policy document that accompanied the government's program at the last election you would find that in it. The government's program was not just consulted on, there was an election about it and, as the Minister for Health has mentioned, we won.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT