Ms MANISON - 2016-03-16
This morning Mix 104.9 FM was inundated with calls from listeners regarding antisocial behaviour in Darwin and Palmerston. Rob from Wulagi said, ‘It’s absolutely shocking; it’s out of control.’ Britta from Casuarina texted, ‘The situation in Casuarina is absolutely shocking’. Britta said. ‘There needs to be more of a police presence’. Jo from the northern suburbs said, ‘Antisocial behaviour is out of control in Wulagi’. She has a laneway near her house and has seen some disgraceful occurrences, all alcohol-related.
You promised to reduce crime by 10% every year and you have failed. When will you give police the resources they need to do the job Territorians want them to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, on Friday I had the opportunity of spending the whole day with police. We started in Palmerston and saw some of its hot spots, made our way to Casuarina and spent some time at the Casuarina police station talking about levels of crime and how police are coping resource-wise. We talked about some of the strategies, especially Strike Force Trident in Casuarina and its extension into Palmerston. I had the opportunity to go to the academy to meet the new recruit squad. On Friday night I went out with police and toured areas including Vesteys Beach, John Stokes Square, through the watch house in Darwin and certain other places.
Police explained to me that things have been getting better. They cannot say crime has disappeared, there are no drunks on the street or that antisocial behaviour has disappeared. We can say, however, that things are improving. Our relationship with Larrakia Nation ensures people with chronic alcoholism are taken off the street and taken home.
The number of people being taken into protective custody and put into the cells is reducing because fewer people need to be picked up and taken into protective custody. Thousands of people are still being taken into protective custody, but the number has gone down substantially.
Regarding the comment before – ‘I saw a black person from Katherine in Darwin – how dare you!’ We are in the Northern Territory where people are highly mobile. People can move. To say the entire population of Arnhem Land is moving into Wulagi is not fair or reasonable.
Yes, crime is still an element in our community, but statistics are coming down and there are more police officers in the community ...
Ms Walker: It is a huge element. Take your blinkers off, Adam.
Mr GILES: Member for Nhulunbuy, I hear you screeching across the Chamber again …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Your commentary could be a bit more respectful. I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Mr GILES: I withdraw.
If the member for Nhulunbuy was so interested in crime she would know that alcohol consumption in her electorate is down, so much so that domestic violence is down by 21%. These are things that are working …
Ms Walker: Because we have the BDR. You fool! You idiot!
Mr GILES: You can talk like that ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy, withdraw that comment.
Ms WALKER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker, and I apologise that we have a BDR.
Mr GILES: These are the people who want to be in government.
You have to understand the policy elements and the results. Sure, have a different policy approach, but do not just scream across the Chamber. Tennant Creek has no BDR and domestic violence is down by 20% …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am not screaming across the Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is all right. Chief Minister, have you finished?
Mr GILES: Yes, Madam Speaker.
You promised to reduce crime by 10% every year and you have failed. When will you give police the resources they need to do the job Territorians want them to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, on Friday I had the opportunity of spending the whole day with police. We started in Palmerston and saw some of its hot spots, made our way to Casuarina and spent some time at the Casuarina police station talking about levels of crime and how police are coping resource-wise. We talked about some of the strategies, especially Strike Force Trident in Casuarina and its extension into Palmerston. I had the opportunity to go to the academy to meet the new recruit squad. On Friday night I went out with police and toured areas including Vesteys Beach, John Stokes Square, through the watch house in Darwin and certain other places.
Police explained to me that things have been getting better. They cannot say crime has disappeared, there are no drunks on the street or that antisocial behaviour has disappeared. We can say, however, that things are improving. Our relationship with Larrakia Nation ensures people with chronic alcoholism are taken off the street and taken home.
The number of people being taken into protective custody and put into the cells is reducing because fewer people need to be picked up and taken into protective custody. Thousands of people are still being taken into protective custody, but the number has gone down substantially.
Regarding the comment before – ‘I saw a black person from Katherine in Darwin – how dare you!’ We are in the Northern Territory where people are highly mobile. People can move. To say the entire population of Arnhem Land is moving into Wulagi is not fair or reasonable.
Yes, crime is still an element in our community, but statistics are coming down and there are more police officers in the community ...
Ms Walker: It is a huge element. Take your blinkers off, Adam.
Mr GILES: Member for Nhulunbuy, I hear you screeching across the Chamber again …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Your commentary could be a bit more respectful. I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Mr GILES: I withdraw.
If the member for Nhulunbuy was so interested in crime she would know that alcohol consumption in her electorate is down, so much so that domestic violence is down by 21%. These are things that are working …
Ms Walker: Because we have the BDR. You fool! You idiot!
Mr GILES: You can talk like that ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy, withdraw that comment.
Ms WALKER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker, and I apologise that we have a BDR.
Mr GILES: These are the people who want to be in government.
You have to understand the policy elements and the results. Sure, have a different policy approach, but do not just scream across the Chamber. Tennant Creek has no BDR and domestic violence is down by 20% …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am not screaming across the Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is all right. Chief Minister, have you finished?
Mr GILES: Yes, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016