Mr AH KIT - 1999-04-21
I refer the Chief Minister to his comments on radio last Friday. He told Territorians that he thought of himself and the NLC as being kangaroos. He told listeners:
We are very strong. We are like kangaroos fighting. I see the grass as the children and the families. While we fight, all we make is dust.
Why does the Chief Minister pretend to want a better relationship with Aboriginal Territorians when in the same interview he refused to rule out ‘black-bashing’ as an electioneering weapon?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member is quite incorrect in his assertion that I refused to rule out ‘black-bashing’ as an election issue. That’s quite wrong. I never said that at all. What I did say is that if the NLC and the CLC want better relations with the CLP as a government, firstly, they should not conduct themselves as a de facto opposition in the Northern Territory. If they want to conduct themselves as a de facto opposition in the Northern Territory, we will fight extremely hard and we won’t take any prisoners. And they can fight as hard as they like and they won’t take any prisoners, either. We’re very good at it and they’re very good at it, and that being the case it will go on and on.
The message I gave to the NLC was simply this: We can get better relationships, but stay out of the hard political issues. That is not your prerogative. Don’t act as the corporation where Warren Snowdon can walk in and give you directions as to vehicles and staff to be provided for ALP electoral purposes. Conduct yourself in accordance with the act. Work with me on issues that we can solve together, such as antisocial behaviour and improving education and health issues. Then we can conduct a better relationship. The message was quite clear and the progress we can make together is quite realistic.
We are very strong. We are like kangaroos fighting. I see the grass as the children and the families. While we fight, all we make is dust.
Why does the Chief Minister pretend to want a better relationship with Aboriginal Territorians when in the same interview he refused to rule out ‘black-bashing’ as an electioneering weapon?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member is quite incorrect in his assertion that I refused to rule out ‘black-bashing’ as an election issue. That’s quite wrong. I never said that at all. What I did say is that if the NLC and the CLC want better relations with the CLP as a government, firstly, they should not conduct themselves as a de facto opposition in the Northern Territory. If they want to conduct themselves as a de facto opposition in the Northern Territory, we will fight extremely hard and we won’t take any prisoners. And they can fight as hard as they like and they won’t take any prisoners, either. We’re very good at it and they’re very good at it, and that being the case it will go on and on.
The message I gave to the NLC was simply this: We can get better relationships, but stay out of the hard political issues. That is not your prerogative. Don’t act as the corporation where Warren Snowdon can walk in and give you directions as to vehicles and staff to be provided for ALP electoral purposes. Conduct yourself in accordance with the act. Work with me on issues that we can solve together, such as antisocial behaviour and improving education and health issues. Then we can conduct a better relationship. The message was quite clear and the progress we can make together is quite realistic.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016