Mr SETTER - 1996-11-27
In debate in this Chamber last Thursday, the opposition spokesman on legal affairs, the member for MacDonnell, said inter alia that, as part of its political strategy, the CLP government can and does jail its political opponents far more often and for longer periods than others. As 5 days have passed since the member's outburst, can the Chief Minister inform the House as to the veracity of those comments, and any steps he has taken to ascertain if the member for MacDonnell was reflecting Labor Party policy in last Thursday's remarks?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, when people heard of this statement by the member for MacDonnell, there was absolute outrage. He was talking about political prisoners here in the Territory - could he be serious? Does the opposition seriously believe that the Northern Territory government imprisons political adherents to that side of politics? Is that the view of members opposite? They are just sitting there. I would be sitting there with a stunned look on my face too. Can I say to the Leader of the Opposition that I understand her problem. Her problem is the member for MacDonnell. All political parties at some time or another have someone in their ranks who is absolutely off the rails. It is time that she demonstrated some leadership and reefed him back into line.
Mr Stirling: Answer the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister is running down his familiar track of getting off the point and directing a question to me rather than addressing the question from the member for Jingili. Presumably he has a point to make, and perhaps he would like to make it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have no power, as I have made the point ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member for Wanguri reflects on the Chair once more this morning, he will be named.
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I have no power to direct any minister in the way that minister will answer a question.
Mr Bailey: But, if it is not relevant to the question ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: It is relevant to the question, Mr Speaker. I was asked whether I had been able to check the veracity of this stupid statement by the member for MacDonnell and whether in fact it reflects Labor policy. I have waited patiently ...
Mr Ah Kit: You are twisting it around.
Mr STONE: You do not like it, do you? That is the problem for members of the Labor Party. They make outrageous claims and then step back and think that somehow they can get away with it. The Leader of the Opposition allowed a senior shadow minister in her ranks to claim in the public arena: `The reality, the real policy here, is that the over-representation of Labor supporters in the prison system of the Northern Territory to the tune of 70% means that the Country Liberal Party administration can condemn its political opponents to longer and more frequent jail terms while, at the same time, beating its collective law-and-order drum in front of CLP supporters, claiming to be acting to protect them in their suburban corners in Darwin and Alice Springs'. That has to be one of the sickest statements that I have ever heard from a senior Labor spokesman.
Mr Bailey: You don't put resources into Darwin.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: It is high time that the Leader of the Opposition started to exert some leadership and some authority over the member for MacDonnell. She can sit there with a silly look on her face, but the reality is that, after yesterday's performance, he is completely out of control. It is time she did something about it. She should stand up and say that this is not Labor policy, that her party does not agree with that view. It is really quite simple for her to understand.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, when people heard of this statement by the member for MacDonnell, there was absolute outrage. He was talking about political prisoners here in the Territory - could he be serious? Does the opposition seriously believe that the Northern Territory government imprisons political adherents to that side of politics? Is that the view of members opposite? They are just sitting there. I would be sitting there with a stunned look on my face too. Can I say to the Leader of the Opposition that I understand her problem. Her problem is the member for MacDonnell. All political parties at some time or another have someone in their ranks who is absolutely off the rails. It is time that she demonstrated some leadership and reefed him back into line.
Mr Stirling: Answer the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister is running down his familiar track of getting off the point and directing a question to me rather than addressing the question from the member for Jingili. Presumably he has a point to make, and perhaps he would like to make it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have no power, as I have made the point ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member for Wanguri reflects on the Chair once more this morning, he will be named.
Page 1830
I have no power to direct any minister in the way that minister will answer a question.
Mr Bailey: But, if it is not relevant to the question ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: It is relevant to the question, Mr Speaker. I was asked whether I had been able to check the veracity of this stupid statement by the member for MacDonnell and whether in fact it reflects Labor policy. I have waited patiently ...
Mr Ah Kit: You are twisting it around.
Mr STONE: You do not like it, do you? That is the problem for members of the Labor Party. They make outrageous claims and then step back and think that somehow they can get away with it. The Leader of the Opposition allowed a senior shadow minister in her ranks to claim in the public arena: `The reality, the real policy here, is that the over-representation of Labor supporters in the prison system of the Northern Territory to the tune of 70% means that the Country Liberal Party administration can condemn its political opponents to longer and more frequent jail terms while, at the same time, beating its collective law-and-order drum in front of CLP supporters, claiming to be acting to protect them in their suburban corners in Darwin and Alice Springs'. That has to be one of the sickest statements that I have ever heard from a senior Labor spokesman.
Mr Bailey: You don't put resources into Darwin.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: It is high time that the Leader of the Opposition started to exert some leadership and some authority over the member for MacDonnell. She can sit there with a silly look on her face, but the reality is that, after yesterday's performance, he is completely out of control. It is time she did something about it. She should stand up and say that this is not Labor policy, that her party does not agree with that view. It is really quite simple for her to understand.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016