The McGowan Government has today introduced the Liquor Control Amendment (Protected Entertainment Precincts) Bill 2022 in Parliament.
The Bill aims to enhance safety in Western Australia’s popular entertainment precincts by banning perpetrators of violent or threatening behaviour.
Protected Entertainment Precincts (PEP) will be established in Northbridge-Perth, Fremantle, Scarborough, Hillarys and Mandurah with legislation banning violent offenders and perpetrators of antisocial behaviour from these precincts.
Since the proposed legislation was announced last month, the McGowan Government has consulted with local governments and briefed stakeholders on the legislation.
Indicative boundaries were created for the five precincts following advice, and further refinement will take place with local governments to finalise the precinct boundaries.
PEP are named in honour of Giuseppe “Pep” Raco, the victim of an unprovoked one-punch attack in Northbridge in July 2020.
The McGowan Government started developing the Bill following a campaign from the Raco family to strengthen laws around violent offences in entertainment precincts.
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti:
“This legislation is literally drawing a line on anti-social behaviour – if you do the wrong thing, you won’t be allowed in our entertainment precincts.
“Tragedies have occurred and families have been broken. Now the State Government is doing something about it.
“We have listened to a range of feedback over a long period of time that incidents occur too regularly in these precincts – this legislation addresses these concerns.
“Ultimately the Western Australian public deserve to be able to enjoy these precincts with the knowledge that convicted criminals, violent thugs, rapists and drink spikers are not allowed back in.
“This legislation targets violent and anti-social behaviour while still ensuring that people who are doing the right thing are free to enjoy themselves.”
