Mr ELFERINK - 1998-04-23
The Northern Territory Hotels and Hospitality Association has written to the Northern Territory Police Force and the Chief Minister, in his capacity as the member for Port Darwin, raising concerns about drunken itinerants who are having an adverse impact on tourists visiting Bicentennial Park. What steps are being taken to address the unacceptable harassment of tourists?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it has been very interesting to note the response from the local member, the member for Port Darwin and Chief Minister, in relation to these matters ...
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Ms Martin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay.
Mr REED: ... pertaining to his electorate, and the feeble interjections that we hear from the member for Fannie Bay who takes little interest in what is happening in her patch. Indeed, many of the constituents in the electorate of Fannie Bay approach the electorate office of the member for Port Darwin, the Chief Minister, for assistance ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy, you are out of order.
Mr REED: The Northern Territory Hotels and Hospitality Association wrote to the Chief Minister, as the member for Port Darwin, in relation to the problems that the member for MacDonnell alluded to along the Esplanade and in other parts of the city. These problems of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour are not new to the residents of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and other centres across the Northern Territory. Notwithstanding the blatantly incorrect interjections from members opposite that we have done nothing about it as a government, the government has provided tens of millions of dollars in additional funding for the police over the last few budgets, to increase police numbers so that these matters may be better policed, providing a safer and more peaceful society and to ensure that our public places are not venues for the kind of trouble that is being experienced along the Esplanade in Bicentennial Park. As a result of those activities, police have initiated patrols in association with Darwin City Council. These dedicated public-place patrols are conducted between 8 am and 4 pm and 2 pm and 10 pm. That is the shift crossover. Each shift specifically covers Bicentennial Park.
Ms Martin: How often do the police have the numbers to carry out those patrols?
Mr REED: The member for Fannie Bay is a bit antisocial herself. She cannot keep her mouth shut. She does not want to hear the details of any response from the government. Yet members opposite complain that they are not provided with information. The people listening to this broadcast, as much as they would like to hear the information, cannot hear it because of the interjections from members opposite. If you want to get the message, be quiet and listen. You might learn something.
Ms Martin: You have done nothing. It is a shame job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, you have been spoken to often enough today. Stop it.
Mr REED: Madam Speaker, antisocial behaviour strategic patrols are also being undertaken. They were implemented in March 1997 in Alice Springs. They continue to have effect and will be continued by police in Alice Springs. Tennant Creek also has dedicated patrols in conjunction with the Julalikari night patrol. That has increased the patrol activity in the town. In Katherine, social disorder and alcohol-related offences continue to dominate the police workload, comprising some 70% of it. That is an enormous drain on police resources and an indication of the extent of the problem and the difficulty of finding solutions. The government remains committed to solving it. We will continue to direct additional resources to police who are doing an excellent job in a very difficult area to overcome the problem. People who are drinking in public places and exhibiting antisocial behaviour cannot expect the pressure to be relaxed. We will continue to police these matters very strongly to ensure that antisocial behaviour decreases.
I compliment the Liquor Commission on its recent action in stipulating that, as a condition of licences, if it is considered that a person purchasing alcohol may infringe the Summary Offences Act by drinking publicly within 2 km of a liquor outlet, the sale must not proceed. That puts some responsibility back on the liquor retailer. Some of them may not like that. However, I am advised that some licensees requested such a condition as part of their licence. I commend the commission for applying that across the board and taking a very pro-active role in assisting police and the broader community to ensure that antisocial behaviour resulting from alcohol consumption is not only controlled but reduced. The government will continue to apply additional resources to progress that program.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it has been very interesting to note the response from the local member, the member for Port Darwin and Chief Minister, in relation to these matters ...
Page 195
Ms Martin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay.
Mr REED: ... pertaining to his electorate, and the feeble interjections that we hear from the member for Fannie Bay who takes little interest in what is happening in her patch. Indeed, many of the constituents in the electorate of Fannie Bay approach the electorate office of the member for Port Darwin, the Chief Minister, for assistance ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy, you are out of order.
Mr REED: The Northern Territory Hotels and Hospitality Association wrote to the Chief Minister, as the member for Port Darwin, in relation to the problems that the member for MacDonnell alluded to along the Esplanade and in other parts of the city. These problems of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour are not new to the residents of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and other centres across the Northern Territory. Notwithstanding the blatantly incorrect interjections from members opposite that we have done nothing about it as a government, the government has provided tens of millions of dollars in additional funding for the police over the last few budgets, to increase police numbers so that these matters may be better policed, providing a safer and more peaceful society and to ensure that our public places are not venues for the kind of trouble that is being experienced along the Esplanade in Bicentennial Park. As a result of those activities, police have initiated patrols in association with Darwin City Council. These dedicated public-place patrols are conducted between 8 am and 4 pm and 2 pm and 10 pm. That is the shift crossover. Each shift specifically covers Bicentennial Park.
Ms Martin: How often do the police have the numbers to carry out those patrols?
Mr REED: The member for Fannie Bay is a bit antisocial herself. She cannot keep her mouth shut. She does not want to hear the details of any response from the government. Yet members opposite complain that they are not provided with information. The people listening to this broadcast, as much as they would like to hear the information, cannot hear it because of the interjections from members opposite. If you want to get the message, be quiet and listen. You might learn something.
Ms Martin: You have done nothing. It is a shame job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, you have been spoken to often enough today. Stop it.
Mr REED: Madam Speaker, antisocial behaviour strategic patrols are also being undertaken. They were implemented in March 1997 in Alice Springs. They continue to have effect and will be continued by police in Alice Springs. Tennant Creek also has dedicated patrols in conjunction with the Julalikari night patrol. That has increased the patrol activity in the town. In Katherine, social disorder and alcohol-related offences continue to dominate the police workload, comprising some 70% of it. That is an enormous drain on police resources and an indication of the extent of the problem and the difficulty of finding solutions. The government remains committed to solving it. We will continue to direct additional resources to police who are doing an excellent job in a very difficult area to overcome the problem. People who are drinking in public places and exhibiting antisocial behaviour cannot expect the pressure to be relaxed. We will continue to police these matters very strongly to ensure that antisocial behaviour decreases.
I compliment the Liquor Commission on its recent action in stipulating that, as a condition of licences, if it is considered that a person purchasing alcohol may infringe the Summary Offences Act by drinking publicly within 2 km of a liquor outlet, the sale must not proceed. That puts some responsibility back on the liquor retailer. Some of them may not like that. However, I am advised that some licensees requested such a condition as part of their licence. I commend the commission for applying that across the board and taking a very pro-active role in assisting police and the broader community to ensure that antisocial behaviour resulting from alcohol consumption is not only controlled but reduced. The government will continue to apply additional resources to progress that program.
Page 196
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016