Mr TOYNE - 1996-10-17
Police statistics show clear-up rates for unlawful entry with intent from 1992 to mid-1996 average in Darwin 9.12%, in Alice Springs 19.22%, in Katherine 18.10% and in Tennant Creek 17.39%. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table these graphs.
Leave granted.
Mr TOYNE: The best way to prevent crime is, as the ALP has always contended, for potential offenders to know that, if they try it, they will be caught. Will the Chief Minister concede now that the clear-up rates are very low and reflect that this administration fails to resource the police properly?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am at a loss to understand why the Labor Party is so soft on this issue. Why do members opposite take the view that somehow the criminals should rate ahead of the victims? Questions of this kind are a classic illustration of the wimpishness of the Labor Party when it comes to issues of policing and sentencing.
The Northern Territory government has given a very strong commitment, particularly in relation to property offences. That is what Operation Surf is all about, and it has a far greater clear-up rate than the figures indicated by the member for Stuart. Members opposite have spoken on the record now. We have heard from the member for Stuart, the member for Wanguri and the member for MacDonnell and they are all absolutely opposed to the sentencing regime that we intend to introduce in the Northern Territory. I put the Labor Party on notice ...
Mr Bailey: You have a responsibility ...
Mr STONE: There goes the member for Wanguri!
Mr Bailey: Yes.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Wanguri that he is on a warning, and he is treading very close to the mark.
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Mr STONE: We put the Labor Party on notice in the Territory, and we put the criminals on notice in the Territory. If people do the crime, they will have to do the time. If they break into people's homes, if they steal people's cars, they will go to jail. If they are adults, they will go to jail for the first offence. There will be no second chances. Members opposite are too soft. They will not stand up for the rights of Territorians.
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Leave granted.
Mr TOYNE: The best way to prevent crime is, as the ALP has always contended, for potential offenders to know that, if they try it, they will be caught. Will the Chief Minister concede now that the clear-up rates are very low and reflect that this administration fails to resource the police properly?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am at a loss to understand why the Labor Party is so soft on this issue. Why do members opposite take the view that somehow the criminals should rate ahead of the victims? Questions of this kind are a classic illustration of the wimpishness of the Labor Party when it comes to issues of policing and sentencing.
The Northern Territory government has given a very strong commitment, particularly in relation to property offences. That is what Operation Surf is all about, and it has a far greater clear-up rate than the figures indicated by the member for Stuart. Members opposite have spoken on the record now. We have heard from the member for Stuart, the member for Wanguri and the member for MacDonnell and they are all absolutely opposed to the sentencing regime that we intend to introduce in the Northern Territory. I put the Labor Party on notice ...
Mr Bailey: You have a responsibility ...
Mr STONE: There goes the member for Wanguri!
Mr Bailey: Yes.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Wanguri that he is on a warning, and he is treading very close to the mark.
Page 1727
Mr STONE: We put the Labor Party on notice in the Territory, and we put the criminals on notice in the Territory. If people do the crime, they will have to do the time. If they break into people's homes, if they steal people's cars, they will go to jail. If they are adults, they will go to jail for the first offence. There will be no second chances. Members opposite are too soft. They will not stand up for the rights of Territorians.
Page 1728
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016