SA: Parties unveil aggressive policies in lead-up to election

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2006
SA: Parties unveil aggressive policies in lead-up to election

By Brad Watts

ADELAIDE, Feb 12 AAP - Aggressive attacks on anti-social behaviour and vandalism have
been the order of the day for South Australia's major political parties in the lead-up
to the state election.

As part of campaigning for the March 18 ballot, both the Labor and Liberal parties
today released tough policies targeting out-of-control young people in crackdowns on unruly
and loutish behaviour.

The Liberals used a suburban railway station to unveil a policy to force graffiti vandals
to complete 100 hours of supervised graffiti removal and unleash a public attack on the
Rann government.

"When Labor assumed office, it cut the Graffiti Gone program and, as a result, successful
measures that were implemented by the former Liberal government were terminated," shadow
police spokesman Robert Brokenshire said.

Mr Brokenshire said Labor had "little commitment" to graffiti and regarded the problem
as a "minor irritation and even creative expression".

"Graffiti costs the community millions of dollars a year," he said.

As part of Labor's opening election assault, Premier Mike Rann proposed an anti-lout
crackdown where young offenders could be named and banned from public parks and shopping
centres.

"Some of these louts really have to wake up to themselves before they plunge deeper
into a vicious circle of crime," he said.

It is understood the new laws are modelled on British legislation, where about 100
public orders are issued each year.

"We will tailor our system to specifically suit South Australian needs and circumstances,
having regard for what has been learnt in other jurisdictions," said Attorney General
Michael Atkinson.

He said the anti-social behaviour orders would be applied to "louts as young as 13".

SA's Labor Party currently holds 22 seats in the House of Assembly to 20 for the Liberals,
led by Rob Kerin, with three independents, one Green and one National Party MP making
up the 47-seat parliament.

Polls conducted late last year showed support for Labor was running at about 46 per
cent, up from the 36 per cent the party attracted at the 2002 election.

Backing for the Liberals had fallen from about 40 per cent to 35 per cent.

AAP baw/rj/de

KEYWORD: POLLSA NIGHTLEAD

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