The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Is it lawful to assemble on the Parliament House steps to demonstrate a public protest and was today's protest lawful?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): I thank the honourable member for her question. I don't know the nature of the protest, the applications that were made under the Public Assemblies Act, but certainly since the Dunstan government introduced our public assembly laws we have seen a thriving ability for people to air their grievances in protests and in civil action and long may that continue.
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Supplementary: what application applies under the Public Assemblies Act to have a Parliament House steps protest?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am sure other officers of the parliament will be able to provide more information if I've got it wrong— but I understand that there is a request that is made to use the steps of Parliament House for protest. My memory is, under the Public Assemblies Act, it's an application I think that's made to SAPOL, but I am happy to check that.