Mr BELL - 1995-05-25
Will the minister confirm that his proposal to introduce a levy on cask wine was presented and agreed to by Cabinet as an anti-litter measure? Will he confirm also that he has neither Cabinet authorisation nor legal authorisation to make a grant of police powers to council employees?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for MacDonnell is drawing a long bow on this occasion. All too frequently, we hear from members opposite criticism of any initiative that is put forward by the government to address issues that are of concern to Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: You yourselves do not have the ability to be innovative. You yourselves do not have a very good track record from the point of view of supporting initiatives that are put forward by the government or its department to solve these problems.
The announcement, which was made last week, is about a program that will address many of the community concerns for which we have to find solutions. It is all very well to be critical once someone comes up with a solution and provides funding with which to address some of these issues.
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Mr Stirling: Everyone else thought that they were litter agents.
Mr Ede: They thought that it was a litter program.
Mr REED: Do you want to listen or not?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: Reed's Brownshirts!
Mr REED: You have the most deplorable manners.
Mr Stirling: It was a long bow, but it was an accurate one.
Mr Bell: You had better get ready for a supplementary question here, Marshall.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: There is 15 minutes available to answer the question.
Mr Ede: Go ahead!
Mr Stirling: He cannot!
Mr REED: A component of the program includes litter clearance, as I outlined in my statement. In relation to Cabinet's awareness of what the program was about and the content of my statement to the House last week, Cabinet was fully aware of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Members opposite do not agree with what happens, nor do they have the ability to be a little innovative. That is their problem, not mine. In relation to achievements from this side of the House, I think we can stack them up pretty well. We receive a considerable amount of criticism about what the government promises to do, and we are bombarded with the opposition's suggestions that those promises are not fulfilled. We had some of that last week.
This program will achieve a great deal. I think that the councils will implement it. They have not indicated that they are not interested in it. They want to talk about the funding and about solutions to the problems that they face in dealing with antisocial behaviour. If members opposite want to tell Territorians that they are not prepared to try to find solutions to antisocial behaviour - the brawling, fighting and other abuse that Territorians and their kids have to experience while they are going about their daily lives - then they should tell Territorians that,
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but the government is about finding solutions to the problems and making the Territory a better place to live in.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: You are non-performers. You just sit back and have a rest, and we will do the job.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for MacDonnell is drawing a long bow on this occasion. All too frequently, we hear from members opposite criticism of any initiative that is put forward by the government to address issues that are of concern to Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: You yourselves do not have the ability to be innovative. You yourselves do not have a very good track record from the point of view of supporting initiatives that are put forward by the government or its department to solve these problems.
The announcement, which was made last week, is about a program that will address many of the community concerns for which we have to find solutions. It is all very well to be critical once someone comes up with a solution and provides funding with which to address some of these issues.
Page 612
Mr Stirling: Everyone else thought that they were litter agents.
Mr Ede: They thought that it was a litter program.
Mr REED: Do you want to listen or not?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: Reed's Brownshirts!
Mr REED: You have the most deplorable manners.
Mr Stirling: It was a long bow, but it was an accurate one.
Mr Bell: You had better get ready for a supplementary question here, Marshall.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: There is 15 minutes available to answer the question.
Mr Ede: Go ahead!
Mr Stirling: He cannot!
Mr REED: A component of the program includes litter clearance, as I outlined in my statement. In relation to Cabinet's awareness of what the program was about and the content of my statement to the House last week, Cabinet was fully aware of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Members opposite do not agree with what happens, nor do they have the ability to be a little innovative. That is their problem, not mine. In relation to achievements from this side of the House, I think we can stack them up pretty well. We receive a considerable amount of criticism about what the government promises to do, and we are bombarded with the opposition's suggestions that those promises are not fulfilled. We had some of that last week.
This program will achieve a great deal. I think that the councils will implement it. They have not indicated that they are not interested in it. They want to talk about the funding and about solutions to the problems that they face in dealing with antisocial behaviour. If members opposite want to tell Territorians that they are not prepared to try to find solutions to antisocial behaviour - the brawling, fighting and other abuse that Territorians and their kids have to experience while they are going about their daily lives - then they should tell Territorians that,
Page 613
but the government is about finding solutions to the problems and making the Territory a better place to live in.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: You are non-performers. You just sit back and have a rest, and we will do the job.
Page 614
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016