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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-29 Daily Xml
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RUNDLE MALL

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question relating to Local Government Act enforcement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: For two years, the government has failed to deal with public disorder in Rundle Mall created by the street preachers and others. Yesterday's comments was the first time the minister has shown any interest in the issue. He did not even speak on the disallowance motion. On 14 September, Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood stated on radio that, as council officers do not have the power to force a person to provide their—

An honourable member interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —name and address, officers cannot enforce council by-laws related to smoking. The same enforcement powers are required to enforce other by-laws. The Lord Mayor made it clear that such by-laws can only be enforced with the assistance of police. The police have repeatedly stated that they do not see it as their role to enforce council by-laws. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister stand by his assertion yesterday that police are enforcing the law, including council by-laws, in relation to the street preachers?

2. Does the government intend to amend the Local Government Act to strengthen the powers of council officers to enforce council by-laws?

3. Has the minister met with the Adelaide City Council or SA Police in relation to dealing with the conflict in the mall?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his silly question. Mr President, what you've got here is a member here who is trying to cover his tracks because he knows through his very actions that he has now put the Adelaide City Council into a position where they have lost control of Rundle Mall. This is causing significant downturn in trade—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: —for the traders and also allowing some preachers to actually physically jostle shoppers. This hasn't always been a problem, but it has now become a very big problem because of the ridiculous situation that has developed through the actions of a person who wants to be the next number one lawmaker in this state. He fails to have any comprehension of the consequences of his actions.

We have put enough police out there. We have increased the numbers to such an extent. Of course, at the end of the day, if a law is broken, they will do their duty. Fancy asking me whether the police will do their duty.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Keep going, he says. You are a fool. You have no understanding of what you have done. You are incompetent and just fail to understand the consequences of your actions. But I will tell you who does know: the shop traders in Rundle Mall know the consequences of your actions, because they are suffering day by day because of a drop in trade. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. As the consequences of your actions become more evident, you will be in deeper trouble I can tell you, my friend. The police will do their duty, but I do know that you have put the Adelaide City Council in a very awkward position, and I tell you what we will do. As a government, we will be working with the council to fix your stuff-up. We will fix your problem. We will fix it at the end of the day, because you fail to understand.

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