Mr HENDERSON - 2000-08-09
I have a constituent who rings the police regularly with reliable information about drug dealing, identifying people, locations, times and car registration numbers. She is thanked by the police but told but it is difficult to act because they don’t have the resources to get these known drug dealers off the streets. After 26 years of CLP government, drug-related crime is on the increase. When will the Chief Minister resource police adequately so that they can do the job Territorians see as a priority - getting known drug dealers off the streets?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I recognise that the member for Wanguri is fairly inexperienced in this Chamber, but he should by now know at least that ministers have carriage for different portfolio issues. That question should be directed to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. I will redirect it myself.
Mr REED: The nub of the question is, when will we as a government resource the police to do a job on behalf of Territorians? Well, we made a commitment in the last election campaign to increase police numbers by 150. We will achieve that well before the end of the financial year. We are nearing the 929 target.
I am pleased the member has asked the question. Let us do a comparative analysis of police services you can expect in your community if you live in the Northern Territory and if you live elsewhere in Australia. Cloncurry, with a population of around 2000 people, has six general-duty police officers and one detective, with three police cars allocated to the station. Tennant Creek, with only 500 people more, has around 31 members and two detectives, and eight vehicles are allocated to the station. Of course, they do provide relief to police in remote areas. But there you have a direct comparison of what we do in terms of policing – 31 in a similar-sized town in the Northern Territory, six in Queensland.
Boulia, with a population of around 250, has two police officers and one vehicle. Harts Range, with about 80 people, has two members and two vehicles. Harts Range has a larger district.
I was in Camooweal a few years ago as a conservation officer. We called into the police station to see the copper and he said: ‘Can I borrow you vehicle?’ I asked what for and he said: ‘We’ve only got one, and the other copper’s gone up the road to an accident. I’ve got a problem and no vehicle to get there. Can I borrow your truck?’ That is the level of support you get elsewhere in Australia. This is the support you get here in the Northern Territory.
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Mr REED: You don’t like hearing it, but you’re going to hear it. You’re going to get some truth. You’re going to get some facts.
Mount Isa with a population of 23 000 has 44 police on general duties, 13 in the watch house and 11 detectives. Alice Springs has 128 general-duty police and 25 detectives. And you’re asking us when will we appropriately resource the Northern Territory Police Force. You are a fool! You don’t even know what’s happening on your back doorstep. If you go over to Queensland and pass through a small town, watch out - they’ll want to borrow your car so they can respond to a call-out. Members opposite should alert themselves to the facts before they get up and ask silly questions.
I will raise another matter because it gets to the nub of resources and it gets to the nub of the confidence that we have in our police force. When the opposition were running their advertisements, when they thought there was an election on a month or so ago, they had a very nasty remark there that directly called into question the confidence they have in the Northern Territory Police Force. I wrote to the Leader of the Opposition and asked her to remove that reference that reflected very badly on the Northern Territory police and their ability to solve crimes and the hard work that they do throughout the community.
Her silence has been deafening. I hope she responds. If not to me, I hope she goes to the AGM of the Police Association next week and explains to them why a Labor Party advertisement portrayed to Territorians that they should have no confidence in their police force. Absolutely disgusting! I stand up for the police, who do hard work on behalf of Territorians. She can run them down to the public, but she should make her explanation to the association when she has the opportunity next week.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I recognise that the member for Wanguri is fairly inexperienced in this Chamber, but he should by now know at least that ministers have carriage for different portfolio issues. That question should be directed to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. I will redirect it myself.
Mr REED: The nub of the question is, when will we as a government resource the police to do a job on behalf of Territorians? Well, we made a commitment in the last election campaign to increase police numbers by 150. We will achieve that well before the end of the financial year. We are nearing the 929 target.
I am pleased the member has asked the question. Let us do a comparative analysis of police services you can expect in your community if you live in the Northern Territory and if you live elsewhere in Australia. Cloncurry, with a population of around 2000 people, has six general-duty police officers and one detective, with three police cars allocated to the station. Tennant Creek, with only 500 people more, has around 31 members and two detectives, and eight vehicles are allocated to the station. Of course, they do provide relief to police in remote areas. But there you have a direct comparison of what we do in terms of policing – 31 in a similar-sized town in the Northern Territory, six in Queensland.
Boulia, with a population of around 250, has two police officers and one vehicle. Harts Range, with about 80 people, has two members and two vehicles. Harts Range has a larger district.
I was in Camooweal a few years ago as a conservation officer. We called into the police station to see the copper and he said: ‘Can I borrow you vehicle?’ I asked what for and he said: ‘We’ve only got one, and the other copper’s gone up the road to an accident. I’ve got a problem and no vehicle to get there. Can I borrow your truck?’ That is the level of support you get elsewhere in Australia. This is the support you get here in the Northern Territory.
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Mr REED: You don’t like hearing it, but you’re going to hear it. You’re going to get some truth. You’re going to get some facts.
Mount Isa with a population of 23 000 has 44 police on general duties, 13 in the watch house and 11 detectives. Alice Springs has 128 general-duty police and 25 detectives. And you’re asking us when will we appropriately resource the Northern Territory Police Force. You are a fool! You don’t even know what’s happening on your back doorstep. If you go over to Queensland and pass through a small town, watch out - they’ll want to borrow your car so they can respond to a call-out. Members opposite should alert themselves to the facts before they get up and ask silly questions.
I will raise another matter because it gets to the nub of resources and it gets to the nub of the confidence that we have in our police force. When the opposition were running their advertisements, when they thought there was an election on a month or so ago, they had a very nasty remark there that directly called into question the confidence they have in the Northern Territory Police Force. I wrote to the Leader of the Opposition and asked her to remove that reference that reflected very badly on the Northern Territory police and their ability to solve crimes and the hard work that they do throughout the community.
Her silence has been deafening. I hope she responds. If not to me, I hope she goes to the AGM of the Police Association next week and explains to them why a Labor Party advertisement portrayed to Territorians that they should have no confidence in their police force. Absolutely disgusting! I stand up for the police, who do hard work on behalf of Territorians. She can run them down to the public, but she should make her explanation to the association when she has the opportunity next week.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016