Mr RIOLI - 1995-10-18
Yesterday, the Chief Minister refused to consider an inquiry into the failure of the prosecution, and the subsequent release, of a person convicted recently of sexual offences against young men. This has caused a great deal of anger among the families of the victims, and a great deal of confusion about the legal system and how it operates. Who will go to the community involved to explain to the families concerned what happened in this case, and what is to happen now to the victims and the acquitted person?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is a wholly untenable proposition that there should be an inquiry every time a prosecution fails or a conviction is overturned by a court of appeal. That is an absolute nonsense.
Mr Ede: Answer the question!
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer?
Mr Stirling: Yes.
Mr STONE: If you are quiet, you will receive your answer.
I heard the Leader of the Opposition say this morning that this whole area of the justice system was failing in the Northern Territory. The member for Arafura asked who will explain the matter to the community concerned. I agree that there is a need for someone to meet with the community to take people through the steps of what the prosecution ...
Mr Ede: Nobody is doing it.
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer or not?
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Mr Ede: Yes. Who will do it?
Mr STONE: Someone will go there. The local member has a responsibility in all of this too. I would think that he would ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: The Leader of the Opposition must be one of the rudest people in this Chamber. He puts questions, but attempts to talk over the top of you when you seek to provide the answer. It must say something about his upbringing. That is half his problem and the reason why he is on that side of the Chamber.
The local member does have a responsibility, as I have when constituents are dissatisfied with the way in which a matter has been prosecuted.
Mr Ede: However, it is your bread and butter.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections.
Mr STONE: I hope that the member for Arnhem will indicate that he is prepared to participate in that process.
Mr Rioli: I have been doing that.
Mr STONE: I am pleased to hear it. Even to suggest that, every time a prosecution fails or an appeal goes wrong, there should be an inquiry ...
Mr Ede: Who has done that?
Mr STONE: You have. You did it on The Morning Program this morning. You are the person who said that this whole area is failing in the Northern Territory.
People wonder why there is increasing lack of confidence in the court system and the prosecution process when a person outside the system, who knows very little about how it works, attempts to score political points because he thinks he can enhance his position in the community by that means. He is prepared to trade off the courts, prosecutions and the police to draw attention to himself and the job he is doing. In the process, for political reasons, he is prepared to undermine prosecutions and the work of police officers. That is what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He is seeking to undermine the hard work of prosecutions and police.
Mr Ede: What a load of garbage!
Mr Bell: Good grief!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Mr STONE: He tried to create a scenario this morning that the office of the DPP was somehow in a shambles, that it was not very successful, that it was not doing its job and that there ought to be an inquiry. That is his stock in trade. Whenever he sees the opportunity, he pounces and asks for an inquiry.
I advise the member for Arafura that a briefing will be provided to the community. I take him up on his offer to participate in that. I will ensure that he is briefed before the community is briefed to ensure that he is acquainted fully with the facts.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is a wholly untenable proposition that there should be an inquiry every time a prosecution fails or a conviction is overturned by a court of appeal. That is an absolute nonsense.
Mr Ede: Answer the question!
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer?
Mr Stirling: Yes.
Mr STONE: If you are quiet, you will receive your answer.
I heard the Leader of the Opposition say this morning that this whole area of the justice system was failing in the Northern Territory. The member for Arafura asked who will explain the matter to the community concerned. I agree that there is a need for someone to meet with the community to take people through the steps of what the prosecution ...
Mr Ede: Nobody is doing it.
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer or not?
Page 907
Mr Ede: Yes. Who will do it?
Mr STONE: Someone will go there. The local member has a responsibility in all of this too. I would think that he would ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: The Leader of the Opposition must be one of the rudest people in this Chamber. He puts questions, but attempts to talk over the top of you when you seek to provide the answer. It must say something about his upbringing. That is half his problem and the reason why he is on that side of the Chamber.
The local member does have a responsibility, as I have when constituents are dissatisfied with the way in which a matter has been prosecuted.
Mr Ede: However, it is your bread and butter.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections.
Mr STONE: I hope that the member for Arnhem will indicate that he is prepared to participate in that process.
Mr Rioli: I have been doing that.
Mr STONE: I am pleased to hear it. Even to suggest that, every time a prosecution fails or an appeal goes wrong, there should be an inquiry ...
Mr Ede: Who has done that?
Mr STONE: You have. You did it on The Morning Program this morning. You are the person who said that this whole area is failing in the Northern Territory.
People wonder why there is increasing lack of confidence in the court system and the prosecution process when a person outside the system, who knows very little about how it works, attempts to score political points because he thinks he can enhance his position in the community by that means. He is prepared to trade off the courts, prosecutions and the police to draw attention to himself and the job he is doing. In the process, for political reasons, he is prepared to undermine prosecutions and the work of police officers. That is what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He is seeking to undermine the hard work of prosecutions and police.
Mr Ede: What a load of garbage!
Mr Bell: Good grief!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 908
Mr STONE: He tried to create a scenario this morning that the office of the DPP was somehow in a shambles, that it was not very successful, that it was not doing its job and that there ought to be an inquiry. That is his stock in trade. Whenever he sees the opportunity, he pounces and asks for an inquiry.
I advise the member for Arafura that a briefing will be provided to the community. I take him up on his offer to participate in that. I will ensure that he is briefed before the community is briefed to ensure that he is acquainted fully with the facts.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016