NSW:Angry O'Farrell centres on graffiti laws

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2011
NSW:Angry O'Farrell centres on graffiti laws

SYDNEY, Aug 28 AAP - NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he will use "every possible option"

to ensure the government's anti-graffiti legislation is passed in the upper house.

Mr O'Farrell said he will be "applying the blowtorch" to the 21 upper house MPs who
amended his tough graffiti laws last week.

"Every time there's a new graffiti attack that costs taxpayers dollars, Labor, Greens
and Shooters Party MLCs should hang their head in shame," Mr O'Farrell told reporters
in Sydney on Sunday.

Under the proposed laws, all young graffiti vandals would face court and magistrates
would have the power to strip offenders of their driver's licence.

However, both provisions were removed under amendments proposed by the state opposition
and supported by the Greens and Shooters Party.

Mr O'Farrell re-introduced the legislation to parliament on Friday.

Labor, the Greens and the Shooters had formed "an unholy alliance", Mr O'Farrell said.

"What they did was rip the heart out of the bill.

"...They had issues that was all about politics, they were trying to show that they
could block a piece of legislation."

When asked of he was prepared to use every parliamentary power, including free conferencing
to ensure the bill goes through, Mr O'Farrell said, "We will use every possible option".

Under parliamentary rules, when a bill can't be resolved, a "free conference" is called
in which five MPs from each side sit down to negotiate.

Mr O'Farrell denied he was afraid the government would have trouble passing further
legislation in the parliament.

"We've had one bill gutted. Yes, I'm angry, as is the community...

"(but) it speaks nothing of the legislative program to date or on the future.

"...What I have is a determination to remind the public of the sheer bastardry of Labor,
the Shooters, the Greens last week in standing in the way of tough legislation to stamp
out graffiti attacks across our community, attacks that are costing our state $100 million
a year."

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KEYWORD: GRAFFITI

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