Mr BALDWIN - 1994-11-24
Mr Speaker, the minister would be aware of concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition regarding the situation at the central Australian community of Nyirripi. Can the
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minister inform the House of any further information about the events at Nyirripi that has come to hand of late?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in the adjournment debate on Tuesday this week, the Leader of the Opposition referred to the very difficult situation at Nyirripi over the course of last week, particularly with the level of community violence resulting from alcohol consumption. He made the point that basically the problem is caused by the community not having a community police officer or Aboriginal police aide to support it in that process and, had assistance been provided to obtain a community warden scheme, that would have solved the problems.
Mr Ede: Get it right!
Mr HATTON: I have received a briefing from my department on the situation and events that occurred at Nyirripi. I believe it is important to place these situations in context and find out the facts of what occurred in the ...
Mr Ede: It is important if you tell the truth.
Mr HATTON: However, it is important that members understand the great difficulties which are being experienced by councils, public servants and everybody else working in communities when communities themselves seem to do whatever they like ...
Mr Ede: So it is all the communities' fault!
Mr HATTON: ... and people like the Leader of the Opposition decide that it is not the fault of the communities and that the government has not done anything to achieve the results. I want to be as unemotional about this as possible and I would like him to read this particular brief which I think describes very succinctly the situation at Nyirripi. I will leave members and the public to draw their own conclusions from it. The brief says:
On 19 November 1994, the chairperson of the Nyirripi Council, together with the president of the Watiyawanu Community Government Council,
brought a large quantity of wine, spirits and beer into the community. Some estimates suggest that in excess of $1000 was spent on procuring
alcohol. The Nyirripi chairperson commenced selling alcohol to residents in the community at $20 per wine cask or $50 for 2. Late on the night
of 19 November 1994, the majority of all male community members were intoxicated and brawling amongst themselves.
On the morning of 20 November 1994, Ned Gallacher, a community member, attempted to set fire to his elderly mother, Pauline Gallacher, by
dousing her with petrol. He was unable to procure a match at the health sister's residence so he smashed a health vehicle, front and back
windows. He then approached the ESO's house and, as no one answered the door, he smashed the front and back windows of the council
vehicle. Police arrived at the community from Yuendumu and arrested 5 community members, Ned Gallacher being one of
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them. Both Lindsay Turner and Michael Marshall, who were responsible for bringing in the liquor, escaped arrest by the police.
On the afternoon of 20 November 1994, the vice-chairperson of the Nyirripi Council, Peter Tex, arrived back in the community after procuring
a quantity of beer from Rabbit Flat Roadhouse. That evening, brawling continued at the community until the early hours of the morning.
The Essential Services officer was threatened by drunks for refusing to allow drunks access to the council vehicle.
On 21 November 1994, Aboriginal teacher, Fiona Gibson, and her husband, Lyle Gibson, arrived back at Nyirripi from Alice Springs with a
quantity of alcohol. The acting administrator is threatened by drunks and decides to leave the community at approximately 12.10 pm.
The school and shop remained closed for the day.
Police from Yuendumu, with a 2-man back-up squad from Papunya, arrived at the community in the early afternoon and arrested one man
for drunkenness, Daniel Gallacher. As the police were seen talking to the ESO and his wife prior to the arrest, a number of community
members assumed that the ESO had been involved in that person's arrest. The ESO and his wife are informed they will be shot. The
ESO, wife and child leave the community at 4.30 pm and drive to Alice Springs. The council chairperson, Lindsay Turner, instructs the
shop manageress, the wife of the schoolteacher, to open the store as people are hungry. Hilda Graham refuses to leave her house
until Mr Turner can vouch for her safety. Turner escorts her to the store. The store remains open for 1 hour, and then shuts.
On 22 November 1994, the store manageress hands in her resignation to the council chairperson. The school teacher is attempting
to organise a removalist van to move his personal effects prior to leaving the community. The ESO and his wife visit the local
government office on 22 November 1994 and confirm continued unrest in the community. The council chairperson supposedly
informed all whites that they were no longer required in the community and it would be best if they left. The council chairperson
advised that this action is called self-determination.
On 22 November 1994, the council chairperson sent a fax to the local government office informing that the office will be shut from
22 November 1994. A community meeting has been called for 25 November 1994. Local government representatives, the Central
Land Council, Nuratuta and Imparja Television are invited also. There is no mention of the contents of the meeting. We are
currently awaiting further advice from council chairperson re the contents of the proposed meeting. Further advice will be provided
as events unfold.
Mr Ede: And you say that that there is no need for a police presence.
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Mr Perron: Why don't you have an MPI on the facts and become a little serious about what is happening in ...
Mr HATTON: The council chairperson started all of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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minister inform the House of any further information about the events at Nyirripi that has come to hand of late?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in the adjournment debate on Tuesday this week, the Leader of the Opposition referred to the very difficult situation at Nyirripi over the course of last week, particularly with the level of community violence resulting from alcohol consumption. He made the point that basically the problem is caused by the community not having a community police officer or Aboriginal police aide to support it in that process and, had assistance been provided to obtain a community warden scheme, that would have solved the problems.
Mr Ede: Get it right!
Mr HATTON: I have received a briefing from my department on the situation and events that occurred at Nyirripi. I believe it is important to place these situations in context and find out the facts of what occurred in the ...
Mr Ede: It is important if you tell the truth.
Mr HATTON: However, it is important that members understand the great difficulties which are being experienced by councils, public servants and everybody else working in communities when communities themselves seem to do whatever they like ...
Mr Ede: So it is all the communities' fault!
Mr HATTON: ... and people like the Leader of the Opposition decide that it is not the fault of the communities and that the government has not done anything to achieve the results. I want to be as unemotional about this as possible and I would like him to read this particular brief which I think describes very succinctly the situation at Nyirripi. I will leave members and the public to draw their own conclusions from it. The brief says:
On 19 November 1994, the chairperson of the Nyirripi Council, together with the president of the Watiyawanu Community Government Council,
brought a large quantity of wine, spirits and beer into the community. Some estimates suggest that in excess of $1000 was spent on procuring
alcohol. The Nyirripi chairperson commenced selling alcohol to residents in the community at $20 per wine cask or $50 for 2. Late on the night
of 19 November 1994, the majority of all male community members were intoxicated and brawling amongst themselves.
On the morning of 20 November 1994, Ned Gallacher, a community member, attempted to set fire to his elderly mother, Pauline Gallacher, by
dousing her with petrol. He was unable to procure a match at the health sister's residence so he smashed a health vehicle, front and back
windows. He then approached the ESO's house and, as no one answered the door, he smashed the front and back windows of the council
vehicle. Police arrived at the community from Yuendumu and arrested 5 community members, Ned Gallacher being one of
Page 311
them. Both Lindsay Turner and Michael Marshall, who were responsible for bringing in the liquor, escaped arrest by the police.
On the afternoon of 20 November 1994, the vice-chairperson of the Nyirripi Council, Peter Tex, arrived back in the community after procuring
a quantity of beer from Rabbit Flat Roadhouse. That evening, brawling continued at the community until the early hours of the morning.
The Essential Services officer was threatened by drunks for refusing to allow drunks access to the council vehicle.
On 21 November 1994, Aboriginal teacher, Fiona Gibson, and her husband, Lyle Gibson, arrived back at Nyirripi from Alice Springs with a
quantity of alcohol. The acting administrator is threatened by drunks and decides to leave the community at approximately 12.10 pm.
The school and shop remained closed for the day.
Police from Yuendumu, with a 2-man back-up squad from Papunya, arrived at the community in the early afternoon and arrested one man
for drunkenness, Daniel Gallacher. As the police were seen talking to the ESO and his wife prior to the arrest, a number of community
members assumed that the ESO had been involved in that person's arrest. The ESO and his wife are informed they will be shot. The
ESO, wife and child leave the community at 4.30 pm and drive to Alice Springs. The council chairperson, Lindsay Turner, instructs the
shop manageress, the wife of the schoolteacher, to open the store as people are hungry. Hilda Graham refuses to leave her house
until Mr Turner can vouch for her safety. Turner escorts her to the store. The store remains open for 1 hour, and then shuts.
On 22 November 1994, the store manageress hands in her resignation to the council chairperson. The school teacher is attempting
to organise a removalist van to move his personal effects prior to leaving the community. The ESO and his wife visit the local
government office on 22 November 1994 and confirm continued unrest in the community. The council chairperson supposedly
informed all whites that they were no longer required in the community and it would be best if they left. The council chairperson
advised that this action is called self-determination.
On 22 November 1994, the council chairperson sent a fax to the local government office informing that the office will be shut from
22 November 1994. A community meeting has been called for 25 November 1994. Local government representatives, the Central
Land Council, Nuratuta and Imparja Television are invited also. There is no mention of the contents of the meeting. We are
currently awaiting further advice from council chairperson re the contents of the proposed meeting. Further advice will be provided
as events unfold.
Mr Ede: And you say that that there is no need for a police presence.
Page 312
Mr Perron: Why don't you have an MPI on the facts and become a little serious about what is happening in ...
Mr HATTON: The council chairperson started all of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016