Mr BURKE - 2005-02-15
You will recall, when you were Leader of the Opposition, you had one of your senior staffers anonymously ring a talkback radio session posing as a victim of crime and making assertions about police conduct. Given your appalling track record in deliberately misleading the public, do you now admit …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition, it is not debating time.
Mr BURKE: They either have a memory lapse, Madam Speaker, or they do not like the question.
Do you admit, by your actions in ringing the Police Commissioner, your actions are suspicious and demonstrate incompetent behaviour from a head of government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I again quote the Police Commissioner, who said: ‘I want to put to rest immediately that anything improper happened’. Are you questioning the credibility of the Police Commissioner?
Mr Baldwin: Your credibility.
Ms MARTIN: No, I am quoting the Police Commissioner. It is all very well for the Opposition Leader to make up an assessment. He is simply weaving half-truths and his own allegations together and believes the end product.
The Police Commissioner says nothing inappropriate happened, and that standard operating procedures were followed at all times. The Opposition Leader needs to start believing the words of the Police Commissioner who is leading a very fine police force. Because of the commitment of this government to our police force - $75m and 200 extra police on our streets - we have a police force that is walking tall, not simply struggling as they were with not enough numbers, not enough capacity to do an important job for Territorians. We are very proud of our police force.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition, it is not debating time.
Mr BURKE: They either have a memory lapse, Madam Speaker, or they do not like the question.
Do you admit, by your actions in ringing the Police Commissioner, your actions are suspicious and demonstrate incompetent behaviour from a head of government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I again quote the Police Commissioner, who said: ‘I want to put to rest immediately that anything improper happened’. Are you questioning the credibility of the Police Commissioner?
Mr Baldwin: Your credibility.
Ms MARTIN: No, I am quoting the Police Commissioner. It is all very well for the Opposition Leader to make up an assessment. He is simply weaving half-truths and his own allegations together and believes the end product.
The Police Commissioner says nothing inappropriate happened, and that standard operating procedures were followed at all times. The Opposition Leader needs to start believing the words of the Police Commissioner who is leading a very fine police force. Because of the commitment of this government to our police force - $75m and 200 extra police on our streets - we have a police force that is walking tall, not simply struggling as they were with not enough numbers, not enough capacity to do an important job for Territorians. We are very proud of our police force.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016