Mr KURRUPUWU - 2015-12-01
Can the minister update the House on major reductions in Katherine crime rates under the Country Liberal government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to update the House with some statistics that speak for themselves in the Katherine region. The latest figures indicate that crime across the Territory is down. It is no surprise as we have talked about it today, but under a Labor government we know it would not be happening. Under a Labor government crime rates would climb to pre-2012 levels. The results speak for themselves.
From August 2012 to August 2015 …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please pause. You are talking about crime, but your portfolio is Primary Industry.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am getting to the nut of it. From August 2012 to August 2015 the number of assaults in Katherine went down.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 109: rules about questions. The question was directed to the Deputy Chief Minister; I thought questions had to go to a portfolio specifically.
Madam SPEAKER: There is a bit of latitude and the minister has indicated he will be talking about primary industries in the Katherine and Douglas Daly regions.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: This is the cracker; the opposition will not like to hear this. Assaults in Katherine over three years, from August 2012 to August 2015, are down by a staggering 32.3%. House break-ins have fallen by 16.6%, total offences have reduced by 13.7%, theft excluding motor vehicles reduced by 7.6% and property damage is down by 6.2%.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am seeking the standing order number for digression, because there seems to be a fair amount of digression from primary industries.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am getting to it.
Madam SPEAKER: If you could get to the point of primary industry it would be appreciated.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Katherine is a diverse and growing economy. Crime rates in Katherine and across the Territory are critically important to the people who would live in the Northern Territory and inhabit our local towns.
Katherine is the centre of primary industry for the Northern Territory and the centre of the cattle industry. We want to encourage more people to live in Katherine. That is why these crime statistics are critically important for the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: We have heard the opposition crowing over the last few days about the fact net migration from the Northern Territory has increased. We are trying to get more people to come to the Northern Territory. In Katherine they will be focused on a lifestyle around the rural area and being engaged in the primary industry sector. These police statistics are critical for them to decide to move to a safe place.
I can assure people considering moving to Katherine that under a Country Liberal government crime rates are down. It is much safer for them to live in Katherine and in the Northern Territory.
We know what will happen under Labor. They will get rid of all the Country Liberals’ policies and replace them with their own, and crime rates will go up.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. I also draw members’ attention to new Standing Order 106(3). It is not to be abused.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to update the House with some statistics that speak for themselves in the Katherine region. The latest figures indicate that crime across the Territory is down. It is no surprise as we have talked about it today, but under a Labor government we know it would not be happening. Under a Labor government crime rates would climb to pre-2012 levels. The results speak for themselves.
From August 2012 to August 2015 …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please pause. You are talking about crime, but your portfolio is Primary Industry.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am getting to the nut of it. From August 2012 to August 2015 the number of assaults in Katherine went down.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 109: rules about questions. The question was directed to the Deputy Chief Minister; I thought questions had to go to a portfolio specifically.
Madam SPEAKER: There is a bit of latitude and the minister has indicated he will be talking about primary industries in the Katherine and Douglas Daly regions.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: This is the cracker; the opposition will not like to hear this. Assaults in Katherine over three years, from August 2012 to August 2015, are down by a staggering 32.3%. House break-ins have fallen by 16.6%, total offences have reduced by 13.7%, theft excluding motor vehicles reduced by 7.6% and property damage is down by 6.2%.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am seeking the standing order number for digression, because there seems to be a fair amount of digression from primary industries.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am getting to it.
Madam SPEAKER: If you could get to the point of primary industry it would be appreciated.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Katherine is a diverse and growing economy. Crime rates in Katherine and across the Territory are critically important to the people who would live in the Northern Territory and inhabit our local towns.
Katherine is the centre of primary industry for the Northern Territory and the centre of the cattle industry. We want to encourage more people to live in Katherine. That is why these crime statistics are critically important for the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: We have heard the opposition crowing over the last few days about the fact net migration from the Northern Territory has increased. We are trying to get more people to come to the Northern Territory. In Katherine they will be focused on a lifestyle around the rural area and being engaged in the primary industry sector. These police statistics are critical for them to decide to move to a safe place.
I can assure people considering moving to Katherine that under a Country Liberal government crime rates are down. It is much safer for them to live in Katherine and in the Northern Territory.
We know what will happen under Labor. They will get rid of all the Country Liberals’ policies and replace them with their own, and crime rates will go up.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. I also draw members’ attention to new Standing Order 106(3). It is not to be abused.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016