Mr STIRLING - 1994-11-30
Mr Speaker, once again, the Northern Territory Police Association has pointed the finger at the minister's lack of substance. It has said that the working environments at the Nightcliff and Palmerston police offices are completely unsuitable. In fact, it states that every major police station in the Territory has been and is being denied resources. When will the minister cease his cheap rhetoric about law and order, and put some money into supporting our police?
ANSWER
This question is another example of the lack of any research. Members may recall that, some weeks ago in this House, I too expressed my concerns about the standard of the shopfront accommodation at Nightcliff. I believe the police have 4 shops now. I have been out there, looked through it all and have spoken to the members there. Even though there is a fair amount of space there, including showers, locker rooms and suchlike, it isnot an adequate situation in which to station police. After visiting the Palmerston police station, I mentioned my belief that there is a definite need for improvement in those areas.
In relation to the member's assertion that all police stations throughout the Territory are lacking in resources, I must say that I have visited all but 3 of them because, in the last few weeks, I have been accused of being lazy. Although I was unable to get around to all of them, I spent a fair amount of time ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Most of those stations are very well resourced. Many of them have full computer gear. However, some need new stations and extra equipment. Some are very well-resourced in terms of manpower and vehicles. All of the vehicles at the stations
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that I visited were in excellent condition. I found that quite pleasing because I recall that, not so long ago, vehicles were in very poor condition. There have been vast improvements in communications. The UHF radio network is being extended so that, in the next few years, vehicles will be able to operate all the way down the track using their UHF radio network. That will be a great advance on the HFradios that are used in remote areas. In addition, facilities such as telephones, computers and facsimiles are available at most police stations. Police stations that do not have computers and suchlike are on a program to be fitted out.
I would like to make a point that I have stressed several times. There is a need to examine the problems that we have with policing and the utilisation of police resources. I say that in view of the fact that, at present, we have more police than we have ever had in the Territory. Certainly, there is a perception in some sections of the community that, at times, there is a lack of personnel on the ground. The police themselves have said that, at times, they have a shortage in the patrol area. While acknowledging that, as I have said in this House, we are examining ways and means of better managing police resources.
The new commissioner has been visiting police stations separately from myself and is examining all the systems in the force. Cabinet has agreed to a review of police services, personnel, equipment, the utilisation of police ranks - everything that affects the level of service. Presently, the commissioner is settling the terms of reference for that review. He still has to finalise his discussions with the association and we still have not settled on who will be involved in that review although, obviously, we will require someone who is very experienced in policing in the Territory and who has experience in relation to finance. Probably, more than one person will be involved in that review, but that is a process about which I will be making a further announcement in the weeks to come.
I assure members that this government will not shirk its role of continuing to ensure that we have Australia's best police force in terms of equipment, personnel, training and the quality of our police services. Regardless of what members opposite attempt to infer about police not responding to calls quickly enough, Territory police respond far more rapidly than police anywhere else in Australia. Response times can always be improved and that always needs to be worked at. Some of the opposition's comments that our police services are less than those available elsewhere are patently false. The quality of our personnel is very high. The mechanisms to ensure that it remains high are very good.
I have been disappointed by some of the opposition's comments and inferences. An example is that the Leader of the Opposition recently wrote personally to all police. Obviously, he has all their names and addresses in his computer. That probably is an interesting point in relation to privacy.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: He laughs about it.
Mr Ede: They like to know what is going on and that we are attempting to stir up some more resources for them.
Page 353
Mr MANZIE: He can justify it any way he likes, but I believe people have qualms about it. Obviously he doesn't.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: He seems to have a leg in both camps. He writes seeking advice from convicted criminals and also writes giving advice to police. I suppose that this reinforces what I said earlier about his complete lack of honesty in his dealings with people. He claimed in the letter that ...
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! It is inappropriate for the minister to accuse me of a lack of honesty unless he does so under standing order 62. He should withdraw that remark.
Mr SPEAKER: That is right. I ask the minister to withdraw that remark.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, I will withdraw the way I worded it, but ...
Mr Ede: No, without reservation.
Mr MANZIE: I will reinforce that the Leader of the Opposition is writing and sending out information which he knows is not true.
Mr Ede: Garbage!
Mr MANZIE: He can claim that it is garbage.
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister cannot say that the Leader of the Opposition is sending out information that he knows is not true.
Mr SPEAKER: There is a point of order. The minister should not make that reference unless he does so by means of a substantive motion.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, I withdraw that, but what I will say is ...
Mr Bell: Hang on! Mr Speaker ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister should withdraw.
Mr MANZIE: I did.
Mr Bell: Unreservedly.
Mr MANZIE: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
At the last sittings, he gave this House the information that he sent out. Information was provided that demonstrated that what he was saying was not correct. He decided not to stick with the facts but to continue with his version.
Page 354
Mr Ede: Wrong!
Mr MANZIE: People can make a judgment as to what they believe is fact or fiction. I am referring to his claim that the Grants Commission stated that the police force is under-funded by half of what was recommended. The Treasurer and the Chief Minister pointed out to the parliament that the Grants Commission's changed methodology in making those assessments indicated that the police force was receiving half of what the formula required and that the Department of Health and Community Services was spending $70m more than the formula required. It was pointed out to the members of this Assembly that officers in the organisations concerned realised that there was a problem and established a working party to examine the formula and make it work correctly. The Leader of the Opposition is misleading people deliberately by saying that the Grants Commission states that the police have been under-funded by $60m. That is the kind of behaviour that we have from him.
Mr Bailey: You are making a joke of Question Time. Question Time is for asking questions, not making ministerial statements.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 355
ANSWER
This question is another example of the lack of any research. Members may recall that, some weeks ago in this House, I too expressed my concerns about the standard of the shopfront accommodation at Nightcliff. I believe the police have 4 shops now. I have been out there, looked through it all and have spoken to the members there. Even though there is a fair amount of space there, including showers, locker rooms and suchlike, it isnot an adequate situation in which to station police. After visiting the Palmerston police station, I mentioned my belief that there is a definite need for improvement in those areas.
In relation to the member's assertion that all police stations throughout the Territory are lacking in resources, I must say that I have visited all but 3 of them because, in the last few weeks, I have been accused of being lazy. Although I was unable to get around to all of them, I spent a fair amount of time ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Most of those stations are very well resourced. Many of them have full computer gear. However, some need new stations and extra equipment. Some are very well-resourced in terms of manpower and vehicles. All of the vehicles at the stations
Page 352
that I visited were in excellent condition. I found that quite pleasing because I recall that, not so long ago, vehicles were in very poor condition. There have been vast improvements in communications. The UHF radio network is being extended so that, in the next few years, vehicles will be able to operate all the way down the track using their UHF radio network. That will be a great advance on the HFradios that are used in remote areas. In addition, facilities such as telephones, computers and facsimiles are available at most police stations. Police stations that do not have computers and suchlike are on a program to be fitted out.
I would like to make a point that I have stressed several times. There is a need to examine the problems that we have with policing and the utilisation of police resources. I say that in view of the fact that, at present, we have more police than we have ever had in the Territory. Certainly, there is a perception in some sections of the community that, at times, there is a lack of personnel on the ground. The police themselves have said that, at times, they have a shortage in the patrol area. While acknowledging that, as I have said in this House, we are examining ways and means of better managing police resources.
The new commissioner has been visiting police stations separately from myself and is examining all the systems in the force. Cabinet has agreed to a review of police services, personnel, equipment, the utilisation of police ranks - everything that affects the level of service. Presently, the commissioner is settling the terms of reference for that review. He still has to finalise his discussions with the association and we still have not settled on who will be involved in that review although, obviously, we will require someone who is very experienced in policing in the Territory and who has experience in relation to finance. Probably, more than one person will be involved in that review, but that is a process about which I will be making a further announcement in the weeks to come.
I assure members that this government will not shirk its role of continuing to ensure that we have Australia's best police force in terms of equipment, personnel, training and the quality of our police services. Regardless of what members opposite attempt to infer about police not responding to calls quickly enough, Territory police respond far more rapidly than police anywhere else in Australia. Response times can always be improved and that always needs to be worked at. Some of the opposition's comments that our police services are less than those available elsewhere are patently false. The quality of our personnel is very high. The mechanisms to ensure that it remains high are very good.
I have been disappointed by some of the opposition's comments and inferences. An example is that the Leader of the Opposition recently wrote personally to all police. Obviously, he has all their names and addresses in his computer. That probably is an interesting point in relation to privacy.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: He laughs about it.
Mr Ede: They like to know what is going on and that we are attempting to stir up some more resources for them.
Page 353
Mr MANZIE: He can justify it any way he likes, but I believe people have qualms about it. Obviously he doesn't.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: He seems to have a leg in both camps. He writes seeking advice from convicted criminals and also writes giving advice to police. I suppose that this reinforces what I said earlier about his complete lack of honesty in his dealings with people. He claimed in the letter that ...
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! It is inappropriate for the minister to accuse me of a lack of honesty unless he does so under standing order 62. He should withdraw that remark.
Mr SPEAKER: That is right. I ask the minister to withdraw that remark.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, I will withdraw the way I worded it, but ...
Mr Ede: No, without reservation.
Mr MANZIE: I will reinforce that the Leader of the Opposition is writing and sending out information which he knows is not true.
Mr Ede: Garbage!
Mr MANZIE: He can claim that it is garbage.
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister cannot say that the Leader of the Opposition is sending out information that he knows is not true.
Mr SPEAKER: There is a point of order. The minister should not make that reference unless he does so by means of a substantive motion.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, I withdraw that, but what I will say is ...
Mr Bell: Hang on! Mr Speaker ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister should withdraw.
Mr MANZIE: I did.
Mr Bell: Unreservedly.
Mr MANZIE: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
At the last sittings, he gave this House the information that he sent out. Information was provided that demonstrated that what he was saying was not correct. He decided not to stick with the facts but to continue with his version.
Page 354
Mr Ede: Wrong!
Mr MANZIE: People can make a judgment as to what they believe is fact or fiction. I am referring to his claim that the Grants Commission stated that the police force is under-funded by half of what was recommended. The Treasurer and the Chief Minister pointed out to the parliament that the Grants Commission's changed methodology in making those assessments indicated that the police force was receiving half of what the formula required and that the Department of Health and Community Services was spending $70m more than the formula required. It was pointed out to the members of this Assembly that officers in the organisations concerned realised that there was a problem and established a working party to examine the formula and make it work correctly. The Leader of the Opposition is misleading people deliberately by saying that the Grants Commission states that the police have been under-funded by $60m. That is the kind of behaviour that we have from him.
Mr Bailey: You are making a joke of Question Time. Question Time is for asking questions, not making ministerial statements.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 355
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016