Mr NATT - 2006-02-15
In August 2002, the O’Sullivan review found that the Northern Territory Police Force had been run into the ground after more than a decade of underfunding and under-resourcing. Can you please update the House on the progress of the government’s $75m commitment to Building our Police Force?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. We have been on a very solid road of rebuilding our police force in the Northern Territory from the decimated organisation we inherited in 2001.
In 2003, the government enlisted former Queensland commissioner, Jim O’Sullivan, to conduct an independent review of the resource requirements of the Northern Territory Police Force. For anybody listening to this broadcast, that is a public document. What a shocking document that was! When that report came back to government it really did show how run down and neglected our police force was in the Northern Territory, and the corresponding high rates of crime that were inherent at the time across the Northern Territory. For example, between 1991 and 1994 - and from the context of the questions yesterday and today, this is where the CLP would have us go back - not one police officer was recruited into the Northern Territory Police Force - not one.
Many dozens of them left, but not one was recruited. History tells its own story. If you want to look at providing services to Territorians in terms of community safety, health and education, then history has a story to tell.
The government responded to the 112 recommendations of the O’Sullivan Report with a $75m commitment to rebuild our decimated police force. We said there would be 200 more police on the beat by the end of 2006. We have funded record rates of police recruitment to deliver it. There are now 137 more officers on the beat across the Northern Territory than when we came to office, with 63 more to come. The police force now has more than 1000 officers for the first time. No-one knows the Territory better than Territorians, and we are on a real campaign to see more Territorians recruited into our police force. Territorians made up a record 75% of the most recruit squad to start training.
As an aside to that, I have spoken to our Police Commissioner. As Police minister, I, and I am sure this parliament, want to see more of our Aboriginal Community Police Officers move into full-time, professional sworn police officers, with specific pathways and training for them.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the interests of fairness, the honourable member was very concerned about the length of questions, I wonder whether he has the same concern about the length of answers?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is on his feet answering the question.
Ms Carney: Oh, we could have a day!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you know there is a fair bit of latitude in the way ministers answer questions. Please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, one thing is certain about the opposition, they do not want to hear the good news, and they do not want to reflect on history, because history does not show them in a good light at all.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have had a flavour of Question Time yesterday and today saying that all of this extra money that we have received – there is nothing to show for it. Well, here is some indication of the additional funding for police: a safer community across the Northern Territory. Property crime has been cut in half across the Northern Territory since 2001. Is that a resounding result? I would say that it is. From September 2004 to September 2005, there have been 118 fewer sexual assaults across the Territory; house break-ins down – 97 fewer offences; property damage – 684 fewer offences; motor vehicle theft and related offences – 282 fewer offences.
As a result of the Domestic and Personal Violence Protection Unit, we have seen a 70% increase in the number of domestic violence orders issued, protecting women and children across the Northern Territory; and a 40.5% increase in charges against people who breach these orders, further protecting women and children across the Northern Territory who were neglected under the previous government as a result of a police force that had been neglected for many years.
For the opposition to come in here and say that we have wasted the GST funds, and there is nothing to show for ordinary Territorians as a result of that expenditure – in the areas of policing, health and education we have seen significant improvements. Heaven help the day they are back on this side, because what we would see is a total recruitment freeze, which was what they implemented between 1991 and 1994.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. We have been on a very solid road of rebuilding our police force in the Northern Territory from the decimated organisation we inherited in 2001.
In 2003, the government enlisted former Queensland commissioner, Jim O’Sullivan, to conduct an independent review of the resource requirements of the Northern Territory Police Force. For anybody listening to this broadcast, that is a public document. What a shocking document that was! When that report came back to government it really did show how run down and neglected our police force was in the Northern Territory, and the corresponding high rates of crime that were inherent at the time across the Northern Territory. For example, between 1991 and 1994 - and from the context of the questions yesterday and today, this is where the CLP would have us go back - not one police officer was recruited into the Northern Territory Police Force - not one.
Many dozens of them left, but not one was recruited. History tells its own story. If you want to look at providing services to Territorians in terms of community safety, health and education, then history has a story to tell.
The government responded to the 112 recommendations of the O’Sullivan Report with a $75m commitment to rebuild our decimated police force. We said there would be 200 more police on the beat by the end of 2006. We have funded record rates of police recruitment to deliver it. There are now 137 more officers on the beat across the Northern Territory than when we came to office, with 63 more to come. The police force now has more than 1000 officers for the first time. No-one knows the Territory better than Territorians, and we are on a real campaign to see more Territorians recruited into our police force. Territorians made up a record 75% of the most recruit squad to start training.
As an aside to that, I have spoken to our Police Commissioner. As Police minister, I, and I am sure this parliament, want to see more of our Aboriginal Community Police Officers move into full-time, professional sworn police officers, with specific pathways and training for them.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the interests of fairness, the honourable member was very concerned about the length of questions, I wonder whether he has the same concern about the length of answers?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is on his feet answering the question.
Ms Carney: Oh, we could have a day!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you know there is a fair bit of latitude in the way ministers answer questions. Please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, one thing is certain about the opposition, they do not want to hear the good news, and they do not want to reflect on history, because history does not show them in a good light at all.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have had a flavour of Question Time yesterday and today saying that all of this extra money that we have received – there is nothing to show for it. Well, here is some indication of the additional funding for police: a safer community across the Northern Territory. Property crime has been cut in half across the Northern Territory since 2001. Is that a resounding result? I would say that it is. From September 2004 to September 2005, there have been 118 fewer sexual assaults across the Territory; house break-ins down – 97 fewer offences; property damage – 684 fewer offences; motor vehicle theft and related offences – 282 fewer offences.
As a result of the Domestic and Personal Violence Protection Unit, we have seen a 70% increase in the number of domestic violence orders issued, protecting women and children across the Northern Territory; and a 40.5% increase in charges against people who breach these orders, further protecting women and children across the Northern Territory who were neglected under the previous government as a result of a police force that had been neglected for many years.
For the opposition to come in here and say that we have wasted the GST funds, and there is nothing to show for ordinary Territorians as a result of that expenditure – in the areas of policing, health and education we have seen significant improvements. Heaven help the day they are back on this side, because what we would see is a total recruitment freeze, which was what they implemented between 1991 and 1994.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016