Mr TOYNE - 1998-08-20
Last year, he sold the police vessel Salloo and refused to provide money for a new police boat. The Fisheries Enforcement Division was left to cover the waters of the entire Top End with a vessel incapable of performing safely in heavy seas, a vessel prone to breakdown and only half the size of the Salloo. The minister is on record as saying other options were being considered. As many months have passed without any action, what has the minister done to remedy this disgraceful and dangerous situation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that question comes from an opposition spokesman on police who did not attend to address the Police Association at its annual general meeting. Following that, when the association had been told that the member for Stuart would attend its dinner to avail himself of the opportunity to talk to a few members, he did not attend that function either. That gives a clear indication of the level of interest that the opposition police spokesman has in policing in the Northern Territory. If he were sincere, he would have gone to the association and talked to it about its concerns.
Ms MARTIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister was asked a straightforward question. It was not about the Police Association dinner. It was about a replacement for the Salloo. I think he should answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, answer the question.
Mr REED: I must thank the Leader of the Opposition for sending the Deputy Leader of the Opposition along instead of the member for Stuart, who is the opposition police spokesman, because he did do a great deal of good – for us. That is commendable.
In the 1998-99 budget, police did very handsomely. The priorities that were determined in relation to the funding of replacement equipment or the purchase of new equipment were those that were considered appropriate both by police management and by the government. If members opposite were in government they would spend money wildly and buy everybody everything they asked for without any process to determine priorities. However, the government, in conjunction with senior management of the police force, did assess the priorities and ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Stuart has indicated already that consideration is being given to the future of the police boat. It does not have the capacity of the former boat, the Salloo. However, nor do police have responsibility for patrolling the whole of the waters that surround the Northern Territory coast. There are other responsible authorities, the Navy and Customs. And, of course, we have the capacity to charter vessels in the event that we need them. That is often the case. Funding is available for that.
If the member has a real interest in the police and their future, he should talk to them at their association meetings and obtain firsthand views rather than second-guessing all the time.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that question comes from an opposition spokesman on police who did not attend to address the Police Association at its annual general meeting. Following that, when the association had been told that the member for Stuart would attend its dinner to avail himself of the opportunity to talk to a few members, he did not attend that function either. That gives a clear indication of the level of interest that the opposition police spokesman has in policing in the Northern Territory. If he were sincere, he would have gone to the association and talked to it about its concerns.
Ms MARTIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister was asked a straightforward question. It was not about the Police Association dinner. It was about a replacement for the Salloo. I think he should answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, answer the question.
Mr REED: I must thank the Leader of the Opposition for sending the Deputy Leader of the Opposition along instead of the member for Stuart, who is the opposition police spokesman, because he did do a great deal of good – for us. That is commendable.
In the 1998-99 budget, police did very handsomely. The priorities that were determined in relation to the funding of replacement equipment or the purchase of new equipment were those that were considered appropriate both by police management and by the government. If members opposite were in government they would spend money wildly and buy everybody everything they asked for without any process to determine priorities. However, the government, in conjunction with senior management of the police force, did assess the priorities and ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Stuart has indicated already that consideration is being given to the future of the police boat. It does not have the capacity of the former boat, the Salloo. However, nor do police have responsibility for patrolling the whole of the waters that surround the Northern Territory coast. There are other responsible authorities, the Navy and Customs. And, of course, we have the capacity to charter vessels in the event that we need them. That is often the case. Funding is available for that.
If the member has a real interest in the police and their future, he should talk to them at their association meetings and obtain firsthand views rather than second-guessing all the time.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016