Angry O’Farrell centres on graffiti laws


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.”

AAP ih/it/

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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