Ms CARNEY - 2009-11-25
Your government did a backflip at the last parliamentary sittings in Alice Springs in April 2007 when the government agreed to fund some CCTV cameras. We welcome the backflip, but they are still not monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and when they are monitored, it is monitored by a local taxi company. In Darwin, on the other hand, you have promised same time monitoring of CCTV cameras by the police. Why do the people of Alice Springs continue to be neglected by Labor, and why do you put the needs of the northern suburbs ahead of the needs of Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Araluen. Never let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric. In April 2008, the Alice Springs Town Council installed 14 CCTV cameras in the Todd Mall, which are currently active and recording 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We increased funding; a further $1.1m to fund the expansion, and a funding agreement was entered into between the Department of the Chief Minister and the Alice Springs Town Council. I thank the Alice Springs Town Council for their cooperation in this project.
What we have here are additional cameras. The project is on track for complete installation and operation of the expanded system in 2010. Fourteen cameras now operate, with the current tender to provide an additional 18 cameras comparable with the existing cameras. This will expand the CBD coverage to 32 cameras in total, with $200 000 a year. Compare that to the zero CCTV cameras that were here when the CLP were in power - zero.
One of the issues we do have …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Zero, and do not let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Northern Territory police have actively tried to recruit police auxiliaries in Alice Springs to monitor these cameras. Despite significant expense in running recruitment campaigns, they have been unable to attract and recruit police auxiliaries to monitor these cameras on a 24/7 basis. That is the reality of being unable to recruit police auxiliaries.
We funded the council. We have subcontracted this to Alice Springs Taxis. What we are trying to build across the Northern Territory is a national system - Alice Springs is actually ahead of Darwin in having CCTV cameras throughout the CBD - and an expansion of that program. Once the expanded system is available in Darwin, we will be looking at 24 hour monitoring of the Alice Springs CCTV cameras with police auxiliaries in Darwin. That is a way off at this point, but our commitment is total.
Alice Springs has come first. We will have 32 cameras in total. The great thing about this technology is that the images are held for a significant period of time. If there is an offence reported, police can go back to a certain point in time and a certain date, take a picture of the offender, and use that information in their investigations. This is good technology – that is the reality. It has come at a significant investment from my government. Alice Springs is the first place in the Northern Territory where this investment occurred.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Araluen. Never let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric. In April 2008, the Alice Springs Town Council installed 14 CCTV cameras in the Todd Mall, which are currently active and recording 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We increased funding; a further $1.1m to fund the expansion, and a funding agreement was entered into between the Department of the Chief Minister and the Alice Springs Town Council. I thank the Alice Springs Town Council for their cooperation in this project.
What we have here are additional cameras. The project is on track for complete installation and operation of the expanded system in 2010. Fourteen cameras now operate, with the current tender to provide an additional 18 cameras comparable with the existing cameras. This will expand the CBD coverage to 32 cameras in total, with $200 000 a year. Compare that to the zero CCTV cameras that were here when the CLP were in power - zero.
One of the issues we do have …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Zero, and do not let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Northern Territory police have actively tried to recruit police auxiliaries in Alice Springs to monitor these cameras. Despite significant expense in running recruitment campaigns, they have been unable to attract and recruit police auxiliaries to monitor these cameras on a 24/7 basis. That is the reality of being unable to recruit police auxiliaries.
We funded the council. We have subcontracted this to Alice Springs Taxis. What we are trying to build across the Northern Territory is a national system - Alice Springs is actually ahead of Darwin in having CCTV cameras throughout the CBD - and an expansion of that program. Once the expanded system is available in Darwin, we will be looking at 24 hour monitoring of the Alice Springs CCTV cameras with police auxiliaries in Darwin. That is a way off at this point, but our commitment is total.
Alice Springs has come first. We will have 32 cameras in total. The great thing about this technology is that the images are held for a significant period of time. If there is an offence reported, police can go back to a certain point in time and a certain date, take a picture of the offender, and use that information in their investigations. This is good technology – that is the reality. It has come at a significant investment from my government. Alice Springs is the first place in the Northern Territory where this investment occurred.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016