Mr MILLS - 2001-07-03
Mr Speaker, two Senators have called on the Northern Territory government to withdraw its Public Order and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. Are we to take the two Senators seriously? Does the minister regard them as adequately informed about both the contents of the bill and the reason for the government’s approach to anti-social behaviour?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, Democrat Senator Ridgeway and Green Senator Brown introduced into the Senate last week a motion that opposed the introduction of legislation in this House in relation to anti-social behaviour. Interestingly, I think that gained the support of one Senator Crossin. Rather unusual action given that the Senate was put in place to protect the rights of the states and territories. In terms of …
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: You are very vocal this morning. In terms of that activity, I think Territorians would frown on it. They would expect certainly more of Senator Crossin.
In light of the fact that the legislation is to be debated in this Assembly this week, and that it will, if passed, provide police with powers that are adequate, in contemporary terms, to deal with anti-social behaviour, I have invited Senators Ridgeway and Brown to my electorate of Katherine so that they might first hand be able to experience what anti-social behaviour is, and what my constituents and indeed Labor Party members’ constituents have to put up with from time to time in the Northern Territory, and what these laws are aimed at addressing. That is, providing police with adequate powers to be able to ensure that the majority of Territorians ...
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: ... and the majority of them, apart from the member for Nhulunbuy who keeps interjecting, are law abiding - that police have adequate powers to be able to ensure that is the case.
There is only one thing that Territorians dislike more than anti-social behaviour, and that is the interference of the likes of southern do-gooders in the form of Senators Ridgeway and Brown, wanting to interfere in the elected members and government of the Northern Territory putting place appropriate laws to protect Territorians.
The Labor Party is on the record that they are going to oppose this legislation. They can deal with that in their own way, in terms of explaining to Territorians. The nonsensical argument that it is resources, not powers, is just that - it is nonsensical. These powers had a direct and considerable involvement in terms of police, for the drafting of the legislation, and from that point of view I would have thought that members opposite would have had more respect for the police and their identification of additional needs in terms of a requirement for further powers to be able to deal with these issues.
It is all about looking after the rights of Territorians. We do not want to be imposed upon by southern do-gooders in the form of these Senators. But can I say to them, if they are going to be honest about this issue, they first better get some first-hand knowledge about it. They can do that by coming and staying a few days in Katherine to experience the problem that Territorians face. If they do not take up that offer their opposition to this legislation will be nothing but hollow rhetoric and a bit of grandstanding in terms of promoting their own political wellbeing.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, Democrat Senator Ridgeway and Green Senator Brown introduced into the Senate last week a motion that opposed the introduction of legislation in this House in relation to anti-social behaviour. Interestingly, I think that gained the support of one Senator Crossin. Rather unusual action given that the Senate was put in place to protect the rights of the states and territories. In terms of …
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: You are very vocal this morning. In terms of that activity, I think Territorians would frown on it. They would expect certainly more of Senator Crossin.
In light of the fact that the legislation is to be debated in this Assembly this week, and that it will, if passed, provide police with powers that are adequate, in contemporary terms, to deal with anti-social behaviour, I have invited Senators Ridgeway and Brown to my electorate of Katherine so that they might first hand be able to experience what anti-social behaviour is, and what my constituents and indeed Labor Party members’ constituents have to put up with from time to time in the Northern Territory, and what these laws are aimed at addressing. That is, providing police with adequate powers to be able to ensure that the majority of Territorians ...
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: ... and the majority of them, apart from the member for Nhulunbuy who keeps interjecting, are law abiding - that police have adequate powers to be able to ensure that is the case.
There is only one thing that Territorians dislike more than anti-social behaviour, and that is the interference of the likes of southern do-gooders in the form of Senators Ridgeway and Brown, wanting to interfere in the elected members and government of the Northern Territory putting place appropriate laws to protect Territorians.
The Labor Party is on the record that they are going to oppose this legislation. They can deal with that in their own way, in terms of explaining to Territorians. The nonsensical argument that it is resources, not powers, is just that - it is nonsensical. These powers had a direct and considerable involvement in terms of police, for the drafting of the legislation, and from that point of view I would have thought that members opposite would have had more respect for the police and their identification of additional needs in terms of a requirement for further powers to be able to deal with these issues.
It is all about looking after the rights of Territorians. We do not want to be imposed upon by southern do-gooders in the form of these Senators. But can I say to them, if they are going to be honest about this issue, they first better get some first-hand knowledge about it. They can do that by coming and staying a few days in Katherine to experience the problem that Territorians face. If they do not take up that offer their opposition to this legislation will be nothing but hollow rhetoric and a bit of grandstanding in terms of promoting their own political wellbeing.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016