Mr ADAMSON - 1996-08-22
I believe a number of honourable members have received telephone calls from people concerned about a rather alarming accusation made by the Labor member for Wanguri that rural residents will have to weigh up the risk of putting out fires on the cheap, citing an increase in the Fire and Rescue Service's charges as the reason. Does the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service charge for attending fires or other emergencies?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I welcome this question. This is yet another example of members of the Labor Party running around in the community, trying to create the impression ...
Mr Bailey: Better than sleazing around!
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri interjects because he does not want Territorians listening at home to hear the answer. He should be embarrassed to be caught out on this issue. He was reported in the NT News of 8 July - I will table this - under the heading: `Government Sneaks in Fee Rises: Bailey', as claiming that the Territory government was trying to sneak in fee increases before it had drafted its budget. I quote:
He [Bailey] said the figures, printed in the Government Gazette on 3 July, showed the cost of
attendance for a Northern Territory fire and rescue officer had leapt from $20 an hour to $45 an hour ...
He said the Fire and Rescue Service charge increases had `severe consequences' for people living in the
rural area. He [Bailey] said rural residents would have to ...
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister is quite aware of the standing orders and how he should refer to members in this Chamber. Stone should refer to members correctly.
Mr SPEAKER: The Chief Minister will refer to the member for Wanguri as the member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: I can understand why he does not want to be identified with this report.
He [the member for Wanguri] said rural residents would have to weigh the risk of `putting out fires on
the cheap' rather than calling out officers.
Very rarely does one come across something as irresponsible as that. It simply is not true. The member for Wanguri has distributed this information through the media where it will be read far and wide. People in the rural areas have read that and some of them have taken it as gospel. What he did not tell them was that those charges are levied only in the case of the fire having been caused deliberately, or where other offences against the Fire Service Act have
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been committed. The member for Wanguri shakes his head. He was less than truthful with Territorians when he tried to create the impression that people should not call out the Fire Service if they have a fire on their property because they will be charged more. The reality is that, if you are not responsible for the fire, you will not be charged.
He sought, through his cheap political stunt, to create the impression that people should think twice before ringing the Fire Service. The logical consequences of this type of stunt could be quite serious, especially if there were to be extensive damage of public or private property or, worse still, a fatality. If it were to transpire that someone did not call the Fire Service because they believed this nonsense in the newspaper, the member for Wanguri could have a great deal to answer for. This is among the most irresponsible political stunts that I have ever seen.
Mr Bailey: That is rubbish. You are misleading the ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Before he issued this release, the member for Wanguri knew what the truth was. He knew that people would not be charged unless an offence had been committed or the fire had been caused deliberately. He stands condemned.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I welcome this question. This is yet another example of members of the Labor Party running around in the community, trying to create the impression ...
Mr Bailey: Better than sleazing around!
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri interjects because he does not want Territorians listening at home to hear the answer. He should be embarrassed to be caught out on this issue. He was reported in the NT News of 8 July - I will table this - under the heading: `Government Sneaks in Fee Rises: Bailey', as claiming that the Territory government was trying to sneak in fee increases before it had drafted its budget. I quote:
He [Bailey] said the figures, printed in the Government Gazette on 3 July, showed the cost of
attendance for a Northern Territory fire and rescue officer had leapt from $20 an hour to $45 an hour ...
He said the Fire and Rescue Service charge increases had `severe consequences' for people living in the
rural area. He [Bailey] said rural residents would have to ...
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister is quite aware of the standing orders and how he should refer to members in this Chamber. Stone should refer to members correctly.
Mr SPEAKER: The Chief Minister will refer to the member for Wanguri as the member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: I can understand why he does not want to be identified with this report.
He [the member for Wanguri] said rural residents would have to weigh the risk of `putting out fires on
the cheap' rather than calling out officers.
Very rarely does one come across something as irresponsible as that. It simply is not true. The member for Wanguri has distributed this information through the media where it will be read far and wide. People in the rural areas have read that and some of them have taken it as gospel. What he did not tell them was that those charges are levied only in the case of the fire having been caused deliberately, or where other offences against the Fire Service Act have
Page 1538
been committed. The member for Wanguri shakes his head. He was less than truthful with Territorians when he tried to create the impression that people should not call out the Fire Service if they have a fire on their property because they will be charged more. The reality is that, if you are not responsible for the fire, you will not be charged.
He sought, through his cheap political stunt, to create the impression that people should think twice before ringing the Fire Service. The logical consequences of this type of stunt could be quite serious, especially if there were to be extensive damage of public or private property or, worse still, a fatality. If it were to transpire that someone did not call the Fire Service because they believed this nonsense in the newspaper, the member for Wanguri could have a great deal to answer for. This is among the most irresponsible political stunts that I have ever seen.
Mr Bailey: That is rubbish. You are misleading the ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Before he issued this release, the member for Wanguri knew what the truth was. He knew that people would not be charged unless an offence had been committed or the fire had been caused deliberately. He stands condemned.
Page 1539
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016