Mr GILES - 2012-02-22
In recent nights in Alice Springs, at the north end of Todd Street Mall outside Oscar’s Restaurant, there are dozens of intoxicated people fighting, drinking alcohol, humbugging, and participating in antisocial behaviour. I am told the cinemas have had their doors broken twice in recent weeks. Cars are often vandalised in the car parks; people come out of the movies and see their windows smashed. The Police Beat shopfront is between Oscar’s and the cinema. Why do you allow these criminal acts to go on? What are you proposing to do about it, or have you simply run out of answers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling just follows one foot with the other in continuing to attack our police in Alice Springs. I find it highly offensive that he consistently attacks our police in Alice Springs. He makes statements in this House about the lack of police responses to incidents in Alice Springs that turn out to be wrong, and then he follows up again with more allegations that I will have tested.
Police do a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances in Alice Springs. The operations over this summer have seen a 50% reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs. I have not heard one comment in this House from the three stooges opposite who represent seats in Alice Springs …
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I object to the Chief Minister referring to me as a stooge.
Mr HENDERSON: I withdraw that, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: The three poor excuses for parliamentary representatives from Alice Springs who sit opposite would do themselves a favour by acknowledging the good work of our police in Alice Springs in reducing crime and antisocial behaviour by 50% over the summer period. They should acknowledge the significant amount of work that has been done through the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan to get those kids off the street during the summer period.
Of course, there are still incidents and problems with crime in Alice Springs, but those need solutions. They do not need three hollow vessels banging the law and order drum every single time they get an opportunity, with no solutions, no policies. They are quite happy to talk their town down to the detriment of tourism, to the detriment of business, to the detriment of house values in Alice Springs, at every single opportunity ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The point of order relates to relevance. The thrust of the question is to inquire of the Chief Minister what he is doing about it. All we have heard is investigating the member for Braitling rather than investigating crime.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: If the Leader of the Opposition has any leadership left to show, he will investigate and have a good look at those transcripts I provided …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am curious as to whether the Chief Minister is going to be relevant to this question at any stage.
Madam SPEAKER: There have been quite a few points of order. Chief Minister, if you could come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: If he has any leadership abilities, he will get the member for Braitling to come into this House and apologise to the Northern Territory Police Force for the misleading comments he has made ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling just follows one foot with the other in continuing to attack our police in Alice Springs. I find it highly offensive that he consistently attacks our police in Alice Springs. He makes statements in this House about the lack of police responses to incidents in Alice Springs that turn out to be wrong, and then he follows up again with more allegations that I will have tested.
Police do a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances in Alice Springs. The operations over this summer have seen a 50% reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs. I have not heard one comment in this House from the three stooges opposite who represent seats in Alice Springs …
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I object to the Chief Minister referring to me as a stooge.
Mr HENDERSON: I withdraw that, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: The three poor excuses for parliamentary representatives from Alice Springs who sit opposite would do themselves a favour by acknowledging the good work of our police in Alice Springs in reducing crime and antisocial behaviour by 50% over the summer period. They should acknowledge the significant amount of work that has been done through the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan to get those kids off the street during the summer period.
Of course, there are still incidents and problems with crime in Alice Springs, but those need solutions. They do not need three hollow vessels banging the law and order drum every single time they get an opportunity, with no solutions, no policies. They are quite happy to talk their town down to the detriment of tourism, to the detriment of business, to the detriment of house values in Alice Springs, at every single opportunity ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The point of order relates to relevance. The thrust of the question is to inquire of the Chief Minister what he is doing about it. All we have heard is investigating the member for Braitling rather than investigating crime.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: If the Leader of the Opposition has any leadership left to show, he will investigate and have a good look at those transcripts I provided …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am curious as to whether the Chief Minister is going to be relevant to this question at any stage.
Madam SPEAKER: There have been quite a few points of order. Chief Minister, if you could come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: If he has any leadership abilities, he will get the member for Braitling to come into this House and apologise to the Northern Territory Police Force for the misleading comments he has made ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016