Dr LIM - 2003-04-29
Chief Minister, you should be aware that Alice Springs mum, Rhonda Burns, was forced to stop her car and was then attacked by rock throwers earlier this month. You should also be aware that father of two, Brendan McGrath, is lucky to be alive today after having survived a deadly assault from a rock thrower. Mr McGrath had to have major surgery, including insertion of a steel plate in his head following this vicious attack. Your government ignored calls for a reward to be posted to catch his assailants. Why?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very sad for Alice Springs that there have been incidents of rock throwing. It is unacceptable but, rather than post rewards, our police have been focussing, through Operation Hurricane, to effectively tackle the problem. I am confident that the police in Alice Springs will be able to effectively tackle this problem, which is unacceptable. It is all very well for the member for Greatorex to come in here posturing. He is full of the …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Mr Burke: It is not worth raising, is it?
A member: You don’t think this is serious?
Mr Burke: It is not worth raising this issue; it is only a minor problem.
Ms MARTIN: All issues of crime are of importance to this government. Tackling not only crime but the causes of crime is important to this government and, as I indicated in the answer to my previous question, that is what we are doing, in stark contrast to the previous government, which was just full of rhetoric. I was referring to the fact that the member for Greatorex comes to the question with rhetoric in his mind, rather than seeing the action that is being taken.
This government is taking action to deal with those problems. Rock throwing in our community is unacceptable. Whether it is happening in Alice Springs or Palmerston, it is unacceptable, and this government is putting in place the measures to make sure it will not happen again.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very sad for Alice Springs that there have been incidents of rock throwing. It is unacceptable but, rather than post rewards, our police have been focussing, through Operation Hurricane, to effectively tackle the problem. I am confident that the police in Alice Springs will be able to effectively tackle this problem, which is unacceptable. It is all very well for the member for Greatorex to come in here posturing. He is full of the …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Mr Burke: It is not worth raising, is it?
A member: You don’t think this is serious?
Mr Burke: It is not worth raising this issue; it is only a minor problem.
Ms MARTIN: All issues of crime are of importance to this government. Tackling not only crime but the causes of crime is important to this government and, as I indicated in the answer to my previous question, that is what we are doing, in stark contrast to the previous government, which was just full of rhetoric. I was referring to the fact that the member for Greatorex comes to the question with rhetoric in his mind, rather than seeing the action that is being taken.
This government is taking action to deal with those problems. Rock throwing in our community is unacceptable. Whether it is happening in Alice Springs or Palmerston, it is unacceptable, and this government is putting in place the measures to make sure it will not happen again.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016