Senator GREIG (4:02 PM) —by leave—I am very keen to put on record the deep concerns that the Democrats have with this. They fall into three parts. Firstly, there is due process. Notwithstanding what Senator Lundy said in cataloguing what she saw as the administrative process that has led us to be where we are at the moment, the fact remains that we are still very much putting the cart before the horse. It should not have to be the case that we find ourselves here today snookered, as it were, into being forced to make a decision on something which appears to have been set up as a fait accompli. I understand the promoter of the event was on radio this morning saying that the Senate was just here this afternoon to rubber-stamp the process, and I am offended by that. There must be a better way of going about doing these things. I think the parliament really has the right to know exactly what is being planned before these things are presented as such. Our second concern relates to noise pollution, and I am not convinced that that has been adequately addressed in terms of the noise expected on the day and the way in which it will drift over residential surrounds.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, is the notion of the post-race behaviour—that is, the driver education programs which have been implemented in some other places. There is anecdotal and empirical evidence to show that general driving, particularly amongst young men, is prone to become dramatically worse post these events. These events in a metaphorical way fire up the blood with some people and bring about unacceptable behaviour in terms of driving in the streets and surrounds of the area. There is clearly no plan of action by the ACT government in terms of addressing that scenario should it present itself, and indications are that it would. It is very clear here this afternoon that, given that both the government and the opposition are in agreement, there is little point in going to a division, but I want to express the deep concerns of the Democrats with the process.