There would not be a member in this Chamber who was not affected by the tragic death of Daniel Christie on New Year's Eve 2013. Daniel was cut down by a sickening, unprovoked, cowardly attack by a perpetrator allegedly high on drugs and alcohol, a grub who deserves to face the full force of the law. Even more horrific was the random nature of the attack; the victim could have been anyone's son, daughter, neighbour or friend.
Daniel was just 18 years old. He had just finished high school and was looking to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher.
I did not know Daniel personally, but I do know that Daniel loved his family and friends and that they loved him. He had a smile that would light up a room and a heart as big as Phar Lap's. He was kind, compassionate and generous, and the type of person who would do anything for anyone. His family described him as a beacon of morality and person who had a heart of gold. Although he was big, he never made anyone feel small. Although he was strong, he never made anyone feel weak. Everyone who knew Daniel or knew of him will miss his life-affirming, life-enhancing zest. Daniel will live on forever. The causes he inspired, the dreams he had and the goals he set will live in the hearts of all who knew him.
In death Daniel continues to give life. As many as 10 people have received a second chance at life because of the decision by Daniel's family to donate his organs. It is a decision that the Christies felt would honour the generous and giving spirit of their beautiful son. The contrast between Daniel Christie and his family and the alleged perpetrator, whose selfish and gutless acts stole a life, could not be more stark. The public rightly was outraged by the egregious crime that stole Daniel from us too soon. What happened to Daniel could have happened to any one of us; it affects us all. That is why I support the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014 and cognate bill.
The aim of this legislation is to make our streets safer through the introduction of measures that tackle drug- and alcohol-related violence. The family and friends of Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie need to know that the deaths of these young men have led to something positive. This legislation is the start of making that a reality. The bills send a clear message. At Daniel Christie's funeral the Governor-General stated that Australians should not accept or tolerate violence in any form. The community must say "no" to this ever happening again. That is why the Government has introduced these bills. It has listened to the community and is committed to addressing the increasingly violent alcohol- and drug-fuelled attacks on our streets. The bills respond with a broad range of tough measures to tackle drug- and alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour in Sydney's central business district and across New South Wales.
This legislation is in addition to measures already introduced by the Government. The Government has put a further 420 police officers on our streets since December 2011, implemented the three-strikes licensing scheme, which targets irresponsible venues, and introduced trial sobering-up centres in Kings Cross, Coogee and Wollongong. A plan of management has been introduced in Kings Cross that includes new late-night transport options, tough new licence conditions for licensed premises, drink restrictions, and new security measures. The Government has passed laws so that offenders can be banned from licenced venues in Kings Cross and drug detection dogs can be used in the area without police requiring a warrant. As well, identification scanners will be used in high-risk Kings Cross venues. These actions will strengthen the violent venues scheme, which applies special conditions to the State's most violent venues. The Government has extended liquor freezes in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross and launched a multimedia advertising campaign aimed at warning of the dangers of excessive and binge drinking.
According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the introduction of these reforms coincided with a reported reduction in alcohol-related violence across the State. However, the assault of any person as a result of alcohol-fuelled violence is unacceptable. That is why all members of this House, as community leaders, must do whatever it takes to stamp out violence. This legislation goes some way towards that end. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014 promotes personal responsibility of offenders and the Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 strengthens the Government's existing management approach to licensing. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014 introduced a one-punch offence with a 20-year maximum sentence for assaults where a person unlawfully assaults another person who dies as a result of that assault.
The formulation of these bills has not been undertaken lightly. We understand that a number of our freedoms will be restricted by these measures, but I have sat with the Christie family and seen what they are going through. If this legislation stops one more person becoming a victim like Daniel Christie it will be worth it. It is worth enacting this legislation to protect every young man and woman, all of whom should be able to go out and enjoy a night on the town without fear of being assaulted by a drunken thug. Whatever we do to make our streets safer and to make people feel more confident when they go out is a step in the right direction. These bills go some way towards making that happen.
We were all shocked by what happened to Daniel Christie. There is not a person in this place who was not appalled by his tragic death, the death of Daniel Kelly or the horrific assault of Michael McEwan, who is a young constituent of mine. These incidents occur too often and their impacts have been too devastating. It is now time to act. I am pleased that my advocacy has led to these changes and I am pleased to support them. I commend the Premier for taking strong and decisive action to prevent violent attacks from happening to other young people. The measures contained in these bills will not stop all attacks. Other people will probably be injured as a result of alcohol-related violence, but I could not look another parent in the eye without knowing that I had done everything in my power to minimise that risk. This bill is a step in the right direction. As members of this House we must do all that we can to protect people in the community from violent alcohol-fuelled assaults. I am pleased to support these measures to make that happen.
