Mrs LAMBLEY - 2011-03-31
Last October during the Araluen by-election, I called for general purpose police dogs to be based in Alice Springs. The call was dismissed without thought by your Police Commissioner, John McRoberts, and the government. In February, I repeated the call for general purpose police dogs to come to Alice, only this time Police Commander, Anne-Marie Murphy said she did not see a place for dog patrols in the streets of our city. A week out from the Alice Springs parliamentary sittings, your government announced plans to base a general purpose dog in the town. Can you explain to Alice Springs residents what has changed since 11 February, and why it took so long for your government to respond?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would have thought the member for Araluen would be pleased and that she would say thank you. Saying thank you is being polite.
The government does not make decisions about where to deploy police resources; that is the job of the Police Commissioner. I say to residents of Alice Springs, there are not going to be dog patrols in the streets of Alice Springs. This general purpose police dog is a highly-trained police dog. It is not a dog that will be on a lead on patrol down the mall snapping at the heels of residents of Alice Springs as some people would want. This is a very highly-trained, specialised police dog that will work with police on patrols …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I will take that insult on board and amplify it for our hard-working police - the Leader of the Opposition has called this dog a poodle. That is really offensive to the hard-working police who have very warmly received this addition to the police force in Alice Springs. I have spoken to a number of police officers over the last few days in Alice who think this is a significant contribution.
It is not specifically what the member for Araluen asked for, and some of the members on the Alice Springs Town Council who wanted Rottweilers on leashes snapping at the heels of residents in Alice Springs, but a highly-trained animal working with a highly-trained dog handler to work with police on special operations in Alice Springs.
I commend the Police Commissioner for taking this on board and making that decision. I say to the Leader of the Opposition, and to the residents of Alice Springs, it is not a poodle.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would have thought the member for Araluen would be pleased and that she would say thank you. Saying thank you is being polite.
The government does not make decisions about where to deploy police resources; that is the job of the Police Commissioner. I say to residents of Alice Springs, there are not going to be dog patrols in the streets of Alice Springs. This general purpose police dog is a highly-trained police dog. It is not a dog that will be on a lead on patrol down the mall snapping at the heels of residents of Alice Springs as some people would want. This is a very highly-trained, specialised police dog that will work with police on patrols …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I will take that insult on board and amplify it for our hard-working police - the Leader of the Opposition has called this dog a poodle. That is really offensive to the hard-working police who have very warmly received this addition to the police force in Alice Springs. I have spoken to a number of police officers over the last few days in Alice who think this is a significant contribution.
It is not specifically what the member for Araluen asked for, and some of the members on the Alice Springs Town Council who wanted Rottweilers on leashes snapping at the heels of residents in Alice Springs, but a highly-trained animal working with a highly-trained dog handler to work with police on special operations in Alice Springs.
I commend the Police Commissioner for taking this on board and making that decision. I say to the Leader of the Opposition, and to the residents of Alice Springs, it is not a poodle.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016