One-punch alcohol laws pass in NSW Lower House heads to Legislative Council

Photo: A small group protests outside the NSW Parliament against the Government's one-punch laws

Legislation to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, including a controversial law for deadly one-punch assaults, has swiftly passed the New South Wales Parliament's Lower House.

Debate has now begun in the Upper House.

Among the initiatives is a plan for mandatory eight-year prison terms for anyone who fatally punches someone while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The legislation also includes a new precinct in central Sydney where bars and clubs will be subject to strict new conditions, including lock-outs.

The Government announced the measures last week, in response to pressure over the death of Daniel Christie from a single punch at Kings Cross.

Politicians were forced to cancel their holidays for the special sitting of State Parliament.

Premier Barry O'Farrell told Parliament during the debate that action is needed because the courts have not been prepared to hand out the sentences that people expect.

"Much of this is indeed pioneering legislation," he said.

"It has to be to address an issue that, if the status quo was to remain, would continue to see too many innocent victims either killed or seriously injured.

"If we have to come back and revisit this, if we have to fine tune, we will because we are determined to put in place an effective regime."

Labor supports legislation, sight unseen

The Opposition voted with the Government in the Lower House, despite several Labor MPs raising concerns about mandatory sentencing.

Labor's support will also give the Government the required numbers in the Upper House.

Before the debate began Opposition Leader John Robertson complained that he had not seen any details of the legislation.

"We will support the Government's one-punch laws. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do something about alcohol-fuelled violence," Mr Robertson said.

"We haven't seen the legislation on all those other issues. We're awaiting the detail of all that.

"I have to say it's very disappointing that we're still waiting, on such an important issue, to see the legislation the Government will introduce."

Greens MP John Kaye says the measures are a "knee-jerk" reaction and the party will vote against them.

"We don't believe there's evidence to justify what they're doing," he said.

"We don't believe we can justify imposing on responsible late night venue goers measures that are probably going to fail."

The Greens believe the real issues are being ignored.

"The dangerous promotions of deep discounting of alcohol, the failure to enforce responsible service of alcohol in venues and excessive liquor outlet density," Dr Kaye said.

The Premier said yesterday that he wanted the legislation passed by Friday.

"We're in the hands of the Legislative Council, but my message to all members of the Legislative Council is that the community's demanded tough action," Mr O'Farrell said.

"These are tough measures and I would encourage them to give them the priority that they deserve.

"We want to have, in particular, the one-punch, the death by assault legislation, in place and operational by this weekend."

Other laws for serious violent assaults are set to be looked at next month.

Meanwhile commercial television networks have begun broadcasting a campaign against one-punch assaults funded by professional boxer Danny Green.

The State Government struck a deal with the seven networks to show the ad depicting Green intervening before one man punches another.

It will air until the Government's own community awareness and media campaigns begin.

Green paid for the advertisement out of his own pocket two years ago, after a fatal assault in his hometown of Perth.

Soiurce:  ABC News - 30 January 2014