Ms CARTER - 2000-08-08
I understand that after much negotiation the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory recently reached agreement in relation to the diversion of juveniles from the criminal justice system. Could he advise the House what developments have occurred in respect of the juvenile diversion scheme since the agreement was signed?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the first thing that is evident is that, unlike the Labor Party, if we have a point to negotiate we will negotiate and get an outcome that the Territory wants, not what the federal Labor Party wants. Last week we had Kim Beazley saying: ‘We will have mandatory sentencing in Western Australia but I’m sorry, Clare, you’re not going to have it in the Northern Territory’.
That sort of outcome was not tenable in terms of the arrangements that we negotiated between the Chief Minister and the federal government as regards the juvenile diversion scheme. As the member for Port Darwin indicates, 27 July saw the signing of that particular arrangement. While it took some time to get an outcome that was suitable to Territorians and to this government, there has been some action under way. Indeed, the Commissioner of Police has advised that he has appointed a superintendent who has overall responsibility for the juvenile diversion units which will be established, in Alice Springs and Darwin. In addition to that superintendent …
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: … there are two senior officers who have also been appointed to pursue these tasks. As issues are further refined there will be no doubt some further appointments.
Clearly from the ramblings of the Leader of the Opposition with her interjections she is not interested in this issue. She is not interested in any others, although I am sure there may be some people listening to the broadcasting of Question Time who are very interested in the programs that are being put in place by this government to ensure that they are safe in their homes and they have an assurance that people who trash their property will be appropriately dealt with.
The juvenile pre-charge diversion scheme will be implemented with the aim of diverting juveniles away from the formal justice system and the courts. However, use of the courts will remain when offences committed are of a more serious nature, such as forced entry and the like. I don’t think Territorians would expect anything less. If anyone, whether they are a juvenile or not, breaks into their home they would expect a reasonable response.
There will be a requirement for amendments to the Police Administration Act, and in that regard advice has been provided to the parliamentary draftsmen. We will hear more of that in this House in the time to come.
In addition, the senior officers now working in the Juvenile Diversion Unit will develop training material to disperse to police officers throughout the Northern Territory to inform them as to the application of the new arrangements to be put in place. Similarly, Aboriginal community police officers and senior people in Aboriginal communities will be included in the arrangements to be put in place. It is most important that this comprehensive program …
Mr Toyne: Are they going to have any money out on the communities to run them?
Mr REED: Well, the police will run them. I hear the mumbling interjection from the member for Stuart. In relation to the police numbers to run it, I have indicated previously that there will be additional police employed to conduct these programs. I encourage the honourable member to pay a bit more attention.
Mr Toyne: So the police are now running diversionary programs?
Mr REED: I advise the honourable member in response to his interjection - and I hope they don’t complain about the long answer - that the police establishment is very near the government’s established figure of 929. A recruit squad of 24 members graduated last month, a squad of 36 trainee constables is currently undergoing training at the Police College and another squad of recruits is due to commence training in January 2001. That demonstrates the government’s commitment to increasing the police numbers by 150 in this parliamentary term. There will, in fact, be more than that now because we will be recruiting more police to allow for the diversion program.
The positions that are being filled for the diversion program are very specialised positions. They require experienced police with particular expertise in dealing with juveniles. That is why those positions are being filled from within the current ranks and replacement recruits will be put in place to, in turn, lift the establishment to the approved level of 929, plus the number that will be required for the juvenile diversionary program.
Work is well under way, and I am sure Territorians will be satisfied with the outcome in terms of the agreement that the Chief Minister has been able to reach with the Prime Minister and the federal Attorney-General. It will serve Territorians well. It will not see this government wimp out on punishing those people who damage or break into people’s homes and steal their property, as proposed by the Labor Party. They are soft on crime. We will deal with people who trash people’s homes and properties in a way that is appropriate and considered to be appropriate by Territorians, not by wimping out when Kim says: ‘We will have mandatory sentencing in WA, Clare, but you can’t have it in the Northern Territory’. We are more committed to servicing Territorians in appropriate ways than the Leader of the Opposition is.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the first thing that is evident is that, unlike the Labor Party, if we have a point to negotiate we will negotiate and get an outcome that the Territory wants, not what the federal Labor Party wants. Last week we had Kim Beazley saying: ‘We will have mandatory sentencing in Western Australia but I’m sorry, Clare, you’re not going to have it in the Northern Territory’.
That sort of outcome was not tenable in terms of the arrangements that we negotiated between the Chief Minister and the federal government as regards the juvenile diversion scheme. As the member for Port Darwin indicates, 27 July saw the signing of that particular arrangement. While it took some time to get an outcome that was suitable to Territorians and to this government, there has been some action under way. Indeed, the Commissioner of Police has advised that he has appointed a superintendent who has overall responsibility for the juvenile diversion units which will be established, in Alice Springs and Darwin. In addition to that superintendent …
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: … there are two senior officers who have also been appointed to pursue these tasks. As issues are further refined there will be no doubt some further appointments.
Clearly from the ramblings of the Leader of the Opposition with her interjections she is not interested in this issue. She is not interested in any others, although I am sure there may be some people listening to the broadcasting of Question Time who are very interested in the programs that are being put in place by this government to ensure that they are safe in their homes and they have an assurance that people who trash their property will be appropriately dealt with.
The juvenile pre-charge diversion scheme will be implemented with the aim of diverting juveniles away from the formal justice system and the courts. However, use of the courts will remain when offences committed are of a more serious nature, such as forced entry and the like. I don’t think Territorians would expect anything less. If anyone, whether they are a juvenile or not, breaks into their home they would expect a reasonable response.
There will be a requirement for amendments to the Police Administration Act, and in that regard advice has been provided to the parliamentary draftsmen. We will hear more of that in this House in the time to come.
In addition, the senior officers now working in the Juvenile Diversion Unit will develop training material to disperse to police officers throughout the Northern Territory to inform them as to the application of the new arrangements to be put in place. Similarly, Aboriginal community police officers and senior people in Aboriginal communities will be included in the arrangements to be put in place. It is most important that this comprehensive program …
Mr Toyne: Are they going to have any money out on the communities to run them?
Mr REED: Well, the police will run them. I hear the mumbling interjection from the member for Stuart. In relation to the police numbers to run it, I have indicated previously that there will be additional police employed to conduct these programs. I encourage the honourable member to pay a bit more attention.
Mr Toyne: So the police are now running diversionary programs?
Mr REED: I advise the honourable member in response to his interjection - and I hope they don’t complain about the long answer - that the police establishment is very near the government’s established figure of 929. A recruit squad of 24 members graduated last month, a squad of 36 trainee constables is currently undergoing training at the Police College and another squad of recruits is due to commence training in January 2001. That demonstrates the government’s commitment to increasing the police numbers by 150 in this parliamentary term. There will, in fact, be more than that now because we will be recruiting more police to allow for the diversion program.
The positions that are being filled for the diversion program are very specialised positions. They require experienced police with particular expertise in dealing with juveniles. That is why those positions are being filled from within the current ranks and replacement recruits will be put in place to, in turn, lift the establishment to the approved level of 929, plus the number that will be required for the juvenile diversionary program.
Work is well under way, and I am sure Territorians will be satisfied with the outcome in terms of the agreement that the Chief Minister has been able to reach with the Prime Minister and the federal Attorney-General. It will serve Territorians well. It will not see this government wimp out on punishing those people who damage or break into people’s homes and steal their property, as proposed by the Labor Party. They are soft on crime. We will deal with people who trash people’s homes and properties in a way that is appropriate and considered to be appropriate by Territorians, not by wimping out when Kim says: ‘We will have mandatory sentencing in WA, Clare, but you can’t have it in the Northern Territory’. We are more committed to servicing Territorians in appropriate ways than the Leader of the Opposition is.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016