Ms FYLES - 2016-03-16
Crime under the CLP government is out of control. Katherine, the owner of the Ally’s Barber Shop in Nightcliff, had to lock herself in her shop while a violent brawl took place outside. The chairman of the local community bank, Jim, said he is ‘increasingly concerned about the level of crime in Nightcliff’. Local businesses are calling police daily and talking about shutting down or moving their shops, putting Territory jobs at risk.
When will you admit you have failed miserably to reduce crime by 10% each year as promised by the CLP before the last election? When will you admit this is damaging business and costing jobs? When will you deliver on your promise to the the community of Nightcliff and reopen our police station?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of important points to make. I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question.
The police station in Nightcliff was never staffed by police. The police station in Nightcliff was staffed by one auxiliary who served the front counter when people walked in …
Ms Fyles: Rubbish! The Police beat there was scrapped under your government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: I am happy for you to meet with the Police Commissioner, who will confirm that there was only ever one auxiliary who sat in the front of the Nightcliff police operation. Nightcliff has always been serviced out of Casuarina police station.
Since there has been a range of points made about crime and antisocial behaviour – and I am not negating those – in Nightcliff, police have stepped up their operations in Nightcliff through a range of different measures. They have increased beats and patrols – both foot and vehicular patrol. They have seen the roll-out of CCTV cameras to almost permanent basis outside the …
Ms Fyles: Why not place the permanent CCTV there?
Mr GILES: Well, it has almost been there permanently. I think it sat there for four weeks straight. There has been a range of investments made by police in that area.
We have gone through the Planning Commission to look at redesign of the Nightcliff area and there has been a proposal for redevelopment. I am on the public record saying I would like to see a complete remodelling or redevelopment of John Stokes Square, which will cause a complete change in attitude to that area.
In relation to levels of crime, you keep pushing this bad figure out hoping it will be picked up somewhere and spread. I will read through a range of different elements from Darwin Metropolitan Command …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The community knows antisocial behaviour is at unacceptable levels. When will you open a police station?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr GILES: You made some assertions that are factually incorrect so I will read these out. Offences against the person between the 2014-15 financial year and the 2015-16 financial year: the numbers went from 2096 to 1750, a reduction of 16.5% over the last year. Homicides and related offences …
Mr Gunner: Crimes against the person are up since you were elected.
Mr GILES: Leader of the Opposition, can you listen? That is not rising above it like someone who wishes to be a leader. They do not like the answer. Acts intended ...
Mrs PRICE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 20. Interruptions flow from the other side every time we try to give them an answer they want from us.
Madam SPEAKER: Members, it is appropriate and a decent thing if we listen to the question and answer in relative silence.
Mr GILES: Homicides and related offences are down 62.5%. Acts intended to cause injury are down 19.6%. Sexual assaults are down 8.9% …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. With 20 seconds to go, answer the question with a yes or no.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr GILES: Offences against the property are down 15.2%. Unlawful entry is down 21.4%. Theft and related offences are down 17.4%. Property damage and environment pollution is down 7.6% …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
When will you admit you have failed miserably to reduce crime by 10% each year as promised by the CLP before the last election? When will you admit this is damaging business and costing jobs? When will you deliver on your promise to the the community of Nightcliff and reopen our police station?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of important points to make. I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question.
The police station in Nightcliff was never staffed by police. The police station in Nightcliff was staffed by one auxiliary who served the front counter when people walked in …
Ms Fyles: Rubbish! The Police beat there was scrapped under your government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: I am happy for you to meet with the Police Commissioner, who will confirm that there was only ever one auxiliary who sat in the front of the Nightcliff police operation. Nightcliff has always been serviced out of Casuarina police station.
Since there has been a range of points made about crime and antisocial behaviour – and I am not negating those – in Nightcliff, police have stepped up their operations in Nightcliff through a range of different measures. They have increased beats and patrols – both foot and vehicular patrol. They have seen the roll-out of CCTV cameras to almost permanent basis outside the …
Ms Fyles: Why not place the permanent CCTV there?
Mr GILES: Well, it has almost been there permanently. I think it sat there for four weeks straight. There has been a range of investments made by police in that area.
We have gone through the Planning Commission to look at redesign of the Nightcliff area and there has been a proposal for redevelopment. I am on the public record saying I would like to see a complete remodelling or redevelopment of John Stokes Square, which will cause a complete change in attitude to that area.
In relation to levels of crime, you keep pushing this bad figure out hoping it will be picked up somewhere and spread. I will read through a range of different elements from Darwin Metropolitan Command …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The community knows antisocial behaviour is at unacceptable levels. When will you open a police station?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr GILES: You made some assertions that are factually incorrect so I will read these out. Offences against the person between the 2014-15 financial year and the 2015-16 financial year: the numbers went from 2096 to 1750, a reduction of 16.5% over the last year. Homicides and related offences …
Mr Gunner: Crimes against the person are up since you were elected.
Mr GILES: Leader of the Opposition, can you listen? That is not rising above it like someone who wishes to be a leader. They do not like the answer. Acts intended ...
Mrs PRICE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 20. Interruptions flow from the other side every time we try to give them an answer they want from us.
Madam SPEAKER: Members, it is appropriate and a decent thing if we listen to the question and answer in relative silence.
Mr GILES: Homicides and related offences are down 62.5%. Acts intended to cause injury are down 19.6%. Sexual assaults are down 8.9% …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. With 20 seconds to go, answer the question with a yes or no.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr GILES: Offences against the property are down 15.2%. Unlawful entry is down 21.4%. Theft and related offences are down 17.4%. Property damage and environment pollution is down 7.6% …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016