Mr LANHUPUY - 1994-10-05
There is no doubt that police on Groote Eylandt are under-resourced. I have heard that police are not being replaced on the island when they go on leave. Will the minister give a guarantee to the people of Groote Eylandt that they will receive more permanent police to help them cope with their problems?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Arnhem prefaced his question by saying that there 'is no doubt that police on Groote Eylandt are under-resourced'. I presume that follows from a press release that was issued by the honourable member on 14 September. It is worth while reading this press release to the Assembly because it is inaccurate and it certainly has created considerable heartache. It is about time that the member for Arnhem learnt to make some inquiries before issuing press releases and obtained factual information before creating an incorrect view in the community. This press release states:
'Residents of Numbulwar community have been forced to pay to have police attend a disturbance', Arnhem Land MLA Wes Lanhupuy said today. 'Apparently
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some youths caused more than $6000 in damage over the weekend and community leaders requested they be arrested and removed', Mr Lanhupuy said.
When the police on Groote Eylandt, the closest station, were called, the police said they were too short-staffed to come. Eventually, Numbulwar Community
Council paid for a police officer to attend.
Over the weekend, there were only 5 police officers on Groote out of a normal complement of 11. This happened because senior Darwin-based officers
insisted that outstanding leave be taken, but they failed to send any replacement staff. This is not the police's fault. They are running out of money to pay
for their overtime. It is the CLP government that can find money for a new Parliament House, but not for essential services.
Several points are included in that press release. First, the member for Arnhem stated that Numbulwar Community Council paid for a police officer to attend. Secondly, he said that there was a problem because senior Darwin-based officers insisted that outstanding leave be taken and that they failed to send any replacement staff. Thirdly, there was the stupid idea that the new Parliament House has taken money from the system. In relation to the last point, all members know that that was done through the Loan Council. There was a specific purpose loan that could not be used to pay recurrent costs for staffing anywhere. That is the furphy.
Let us consider the suggestion in this press release that police were directed to take leave and were not replaced. I have been advised that Groote Eylandt has 11 staff. At that time, 2 were on normal recreation leave. Listen to this very carefully; you would have found it out if you had asked. Built into the staffing of all police stations is a complement to allow for police to take leave. If there are 30 staff in Katherine, for example, a percentage of those are there to cover for people to take leave. There is a built-in relief in those numbers and, at all times, there is someone on leave. Thus, of the 11 staff at Groote Eylandt, it is expected that a number of people will always be on leave at any one time. In this instance, there were 2 on leave.
There is no process in the department for additional police to be sent to replace officers on leave. Each area will look after its own staff arrangements through rostering, and staff are allocated with a component that enables a certain number of staff to be on leave at any one time. Secondly, and this is even more important, at this time, 3 officers were on sick leave. Policemen do fall ill. If there is a contagious disease around, 2 or 3 members of staff may become ill at the one time. On this particular day, 3 officers were absent on sick leave.
How does that relate to Darwin-based officers refusing to replace them or telling them to go on leave? It has no relationship to it whatsoever. Of the 11 officers, 2 were on normal leave and 3 were on sick leave. In addition, the sergeant in charge happened to be in Darwin for a course. Thus, 6 people were away from Groote Eylandt which is a small community. To have 11 police stationed in a place that has only a couple of thousand people is unbelievable in this day and age. Nevertheless, the member for Arnhem said publicly that there were people who had been directed to go on leave and the government had not replaced them.
Mr Ede interjecting.
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Mr MANZIE: You do not mind interjecting. Sit down and learn because you are just as prone to making stupid public statements that are incorrect.
The next thing the member for Arnhem said was that the Numbulwar Community Council had to pay for a police officer to attend. I will run through this. A call was made on that particular night indicating that there were problems at Numbulwar. Immediate police attendance was demanded. Of course, the police have no way of reaching a place like Numbulwar except by boat or by aircraft. There was no police aircraft available, but the Numbulwar Community Council volunteered to send its plane from Numbulwar to bring a police officer over. Clearly, in that circumstance, the police will not refuse to send an officer if transport can be made available in that way. The member for Arnhem stated that the council paid for a police officer to attend. It is correct that it volunteered the use of a plane. However, imagine what he would have said if the police had refused that offer, saying that they would wait for the police plane and that it would be another 6 hours before anything could be done. In that circumstance, perhaps the member for Arnhem would have been justified in saying something. However, to attempt to turn that around to attack the police is absolutely incredible. Those were the 3 major points.
An outbreak of violence on Groote Eylandt was reported in the NT News yesterday. This happens on Groote Eylandt on a rather regular basis. I will digress a little. Certainly, it is contrary to the claims that the member for Arnhem makes quite often in this House and he may want to say something about it. The people of Groote Eylandt have land rights. They receive an income that is higher than that which members of this House receive. Families are receiving incomes from royalties of $120 000 in cash, and the same amount is being placed in a trust fund. They also have the offer of employment. The company there has a commitment to employ Aboriginal people. It allows for a number of positions in that company, but not one Aboriginal person is working for it. Thus, the situation on Groote Eylandt is that the people have employment opportunities, massive levels of income and land rights, yet there are levels of alcohol abuse and crime in that community that are simply over the top. The crime rate on Groote Eylandt is the highest of any community in Australia. Land rights have not solved the problem. Self-determination has not solved the problem, money has not solved the problem and job opportunities have not solved the problem. It is not an easy problem to solve. The solutions that come glibly from the tongue of the member for Arnhem in this Assembly in relation to these matters do not work in respect of Groote Eylandt.
However, because of the anti-social behaviour there and the increase in criminal activity over the last couple of days, the police have sent some extra officers. I am very pleased to be able to announce to members that, because of the increase in violence despite all the advantages Aboriginal people have there, 2 extra officers from Task Force, 2 from the CIB and 2 from Nhulunbuy have been sent to that station to support the staff there. There are 9 staff because 2 are on leave.
Mr Ede: You said they were over-policed.
Mr Stirling: And you gave them 6 more.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, that is unbelievable! We have had to provide at least 15 police for a community of that size.
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Mr Ede: You are just contradicting the Chief Minister.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, that indicates that a situation exists on Groote Eylandt which land rights has not fixed, job opportunities have not fixed and income has not fixed. The anti-social behaviour of people there requires the presence of 15 police officers at present. The member for Arnhem is blaming the police and the government for the behaviour of individual people and that is over the top. That community has to take a hold of itself and make a decision on where it is going. They are the people who have to live there and they are the people who have to moderate their social behaviour. For the member for Arnhem or the Leader of the Opposition to say that it is all the government's fault may make them feel good, but it means people in that community will continue to live with the threat of violent criminal activity on the part of other members of that community. The solution lies in their hands and in their hands alone. The member for Arnhem should be condemned for trying to make political capital out of a situation where a community needs to pull itself together and do something positive.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Arnhem prefaced his question by saying that there 'is no doubt that police on Groote Eylandt are under-resourced'. I presume that follows from a press release that was issued by the honourable member on 14 September. It is worth while reading this press release to the Assembly because it is inaccurate and it certainly has created considerable heartache. It is about time that the member for Arnhem learnt to make some inquiries before issuing press releases and obtained factual information before creating an incorrect view in the community. This press release states:
'Residents of Numbulwar community have been forced to pay to have police attend a disturbance', Arnhem Land MLA Wes Lanhupuy said today. 'Apparently
Page 179
some youths caused more than $6000 in damage over the weekend and community leaders requested they be arrested and removed', Mr Lanhupuy said.
When the police on Groote Eylandt, the closest station, were called, the police said they were too short-staffed to come. Eventually, Numbulwar Community
Council paid for a police officer to attend.
Over the weekend, there were only 5 police officers on Groote out of a normal complement of 11. This happened because senior Darwin-based officers
insisted that outstanding leave be taken, but they failed to send any replacement staff. This is not the police's fault. They are running out of money to pay
for their overtime. It is the CLP government that can find money for a new Parliament House, but not for essential services.
Several points are included in that press release. First, the member for Arnhem stated that Numbulwar Community Council paid for a police officer to attend. Secondly, he said that there was a problem because senior Darwin-based officers insisted that outstanding leave be taken and that they failed to send any replacement staff. Thirdly, there was the stupid idea that the new Parliament House has taken money from the system. In relation to the last point, all members know that that was done through the Loan Council. There was a specific purpose loan that could not be used to pay recurrent costs for staffing anywhere. That is the furphy.
Let us consider the suggestion in this press release that police were directed to take leave and were not replaced. I have been advised that Groote Eylandt has 11 staff. At that time, 2 were on normal recreation leave. Listen to this very carefully; you would have found it out if you had asked. Built into the staffing of all police stations is a complement to allow for police to take leave. If there are 30 staff in Katherine, for example, a percentage of those are there to cover for people to take leave. There is a built-in relief in those numbers and, at all times, there is someone on leave. Thus, of the 11 staff at Groote Eylandt, it is expected that a number of people will always be on leave at any one time. In this instance, there were 2 on leave.
There is no process in the department for additional police to be sent to replace officers on leave. Each area will look after its own staff arrangements through rostering, and staff are allocated with a component that enables a certain number of staff to be on leave at any one time. Secondly, and this is even more important, at this time, 3 officers were on sick leave. Policemen do fall ill. If there is a contagious disease around, 2 or 3 members of staff may become ill at the one time. On this particular day, 3 officers were absent on sick leave.
How does that relate to Darwin-based officers refusing to replace them or telling them to go on leave? It has no relationship to it whatsoever. Of the 11 officers, 2 were on normal leave and 3 were on sick leave. In addition, the sergeant in charge happened to be in Darwin for a course. Thus, 6 people were away from Groote Eylandt which is a small community. To have 11 police stationed in a place that has only a couple of thousand people is unbelievable in this day and age. Nevertheless, the member for Arnhem said publicly that there were people who had been directed to go on leave and the government had not replaced them.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Page 180
Mr MANZIE: You do not mind interjecting. Sit down and learn because you are just as prone to making stupid public statements that are incorrect.
The next thing the member for Arnhem said was that the Numbulwar Community Council had to pay for a police officer to attend. I will run through this. A call was made on that particular night indicating that there were problems at Numbulwar. Immediate police attendance was demanded. Of course, the police have no way of reaching a place like Numbulwar except by boat or by aircraft. There was no police aircraft available, but the Numbulwar Community Council volunteered to send its plane from Numbulwar to bring a police officer over. Clearly, in that circumstance, the police will not refuse to send an officer if transport can be made available in that way. The member for Arnhem stated that the council paid for a police officer to attend. It is correct that it volunteered the use of a plane. However, imagine what he would have said if the police had refused that offer, saying that they would wait for the police plane and that it would be another 6 hours before anything could be done. In that circumstance, perhaps the member for Arnhem would have been justified in saying something. However, to attempt to turn that around to attack the police is absolutely incredible. Those were the 3 major points.
An outbreak of violence on Groote Eylandt was reported in the NT News yesterday. This happens on Groote Eylandt on a rather regular basis. I will digress a little. Certainly, it is contrary to the claims that the member for Arnhem makes quite often in this House and he may want to say something about it. The people of Groote Eylandt have land rights. They receive an income that is higher than that which members of this House receive. Families are receiving incomes from royalties of $120 000 in cash, and the same amount is being placed in a trust fund. They also have the offer of employment. The company there has a commitment to employ Aboriginal people. It allows for a number of positions in that company, but not one Aboriginal person is working for it. Thus, the situation on Groote Eylandt is that the people have employment opportunities, massive levels of income and land rights, yet there are levels of alcohol abuse and crime in that community that are simply over the top. The crime rate on Groote Eylandt is the highest of any community in Australia. Land rights have not solved the problem. Self-determination has not solved the problem, money has not solved the problem and job opportunities have not solved the problem. It is not an easy problem to solve. The solutions that come glibly from the tongue of the member for Arnhem in this Assembly in relation to these matters do not work in respect of Groote Eylandt.
However, because of the anti-social behaviour there and the increase in criminal activity over the last couple of days, the police have sent some extra officers. I am very pleased to be able to announce to members that, because of the increase in violence despite all the advantages Aboriginal people have there, 2 extra officers from Task Force, 2 from the CIB and 2 from Nhulunbuy have been sent to that station to support the staff there. There are 9 staff because 2 are on leave.
Mr Ede: You said they were over-policed.
Mr Stirling: And you gave them 6 more.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, that is unbelievable! We have had to provide at least 15 police for a community of that size.
Page 181
Mr Ede: You are just contradicting the Chief Minister.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, that indicates that a situation exists on Groote Eylandt which land rights has not fixed, job opportunities have not fixed and income has not fixed. The anti-social behaviour of people there requires the presence of 15 police officers at present. The member for Arnhem is blaming the police and the government for the behaviour of individual people and that is over the top. That community has to take a hold of itself and make a decision on where it is going. They are the people who have to live there and they are the people who have to moderate their social behaviour. For the member for Arnhem or the Leader of the Opposition to say that it is all the government's fault may make them feel good, but it means people in that community will continue to live with the threat of violent criminal activity on the part of other members of that community. The solution lies in their hands and in their hands alone. The member for Arnhem should be condemned for trying to make political capital out of a situation where a community needs to pull itself together and do something positive.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016