Mr BURKE - 2003-04-29
Chief Minister, under your administration, violent crime in the Territory is increasing. Your government’s own figures for over the last three months reveal robbery is up 38%, assaults are up 20%, and sexual assaults are up 53%. Can you answer the question of the 27-year-old Alice Springs teacher who was attacked recently by six youths in the Todd Mall, who asked: ‘Do we have to wait until some poor woman is raped before the politicians act?’ Chief Minister, what is your answer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a question about community safety is always welcomed by this government because community safety is one of our key issues. Ensuring that Territorians can go about their business, their recreational activity, and that our homes and businesses are safe is a key priority for this government.
What we have seen over the last 20, 21 months of this government is a real focus on dealing with the causes of crime and with those who commit crime. We saw the previous government, headed up by the now Leader of the Opposition, simply having its one shot in the locker - one shot – and that was mandatory sentencing. It did not work. It was one shot in the locker. What we have done in those 21 months of being in government is begin the process of putting in place effective measures for dealing with crimes throughout our community.
I am very pleased to say that, across the Territory, we are seeing trends of declines in crime. We heard the Attorney-General this morning produce the figures of comparing the last 12 months of the Country Liberal Party in government with this government. The figures are conclusive. It is a disappointing when you have the now opposition saying: ‘We cannot believe your figures’. What it does indicate is the party which used to produce figures for ‘only presentational purposes’ still does not believe figures. These are figures produced from our police data through the Office of Crime Prevention, and they are figures about what is happening in our community.
I would love to stand here and say to the Centralian community, and the wider Territory community, that there was no crime. There is crime, and it is not acceptable that it is happening at this level. But let me assure Centralians specifically - and I welcome you here today – that we are tackling both those who commit crime and the causes of crime. We are starting to see a reduction right across the Territory in crimes being committed. Importantly, in tackling antisocial behaviour, the only thing the previous government said they would do is monster and stomp – not an action, not a constructive approach, just, ‘We will monster and stomp’ and nothing happened. The problem of antisocial behaviour grew over the 26 years of Country Liberal Party administration of the Territory.
We finally have a government that is tackling both causes of crime, those who are committing crimes, supporting the victims of crime, and also tackling antisocial behaviour. We are seeing progress and we are supporting our community. The question is a proper one from the opposition, but it does not reflect what was happening over 26 years of the CLP - that these problems were ignored and there was no real strategy to tackle them. I am proud to be leading a government that is finally being constructive and recognising what is a key issue for our community; and that is community safety.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a question about community safety is always welcomed by this government because community safety is one of our key issues. Ensuring that Territorians can go about their business, their recreational activity, and that our homes and businesses are safe is a key priority for this government.
What we have seen over the last 20, 21 months of this government is a real focus on dealing with the causes of crime and with those who commit crime. We saw the previous government, headed up by the now Leader of the Opposition, simply having its one shot in the locker - one shot – and that was mandatory sentencing. It did not work. It was one shot in the locker. What we have done in those 21 months of being in government is begin the process of putting in place effective measures for dealing with crimes throughout our community.
I am very pleased to say that, across the Territory, we are seeing trends of declines in crime. We heard the Attorney-General this morning produce the figures of comparing the last 12 months of the Country Liberal Party in government with this government. The figures are conclusive. It is a disappointing when you have the now opposition saying: ‘We cannot believe your figures’. What it does indicate is the party which used to produce figures for ‘only presentational purposes’ still does not believe figures. These are figures produced from our police data through the Office of Crime Prevention, and they are figures about what is happening in our community.
I would love to stand here and say to the Centralian community, and the wider Territory community, that there was no crime. There is crime, and it is not acceptable that it is happening at this level. But let me assure Centralians specifically - and I welcome you here today – that we are tackling both those who commit crime and the causes of crime. We are starting to see a reduction right across the Territory in crimes being committed. Importantly, in tackling antisocial behaviour, the only thing the previous government said they would do is monster and stomp – not an action, not a constructive approach, just, ‘We will monster and stomp’ and nothing happened. The problem of antisocial behaviour grew over the 26 years of Country Liberal Party administration of the Territory.
We finally have a government that is tackling both causes of crime, those who are committing crimes, supporting the victims of crime, and also tackling antisocial behaviour. We are seeing progress and we are supporting our community. The question is a proper one from the opposition, but it does not reflect what was happening over 26 years of the CLP - that these problems were ignored and there was no real strategy to tackle them. I am proud to be leading a government that is finally being constructive and recognising what is a key issue for our community; and that is community safety.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016