Mrs BRAHAM - 2005-08-25
There is a drift from the bush to the town. With that drift, we are experiencing many antisocial behaviour problems in our suburbs. For a long time, this government has promised it would introduce a living skills program which would assist those people coming from the bush to move into town and not cause disruption and spoil the lifestyle of people living in our suburbs. What has happened to the living skills program? When will it be delivered? Who will deliver the program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. At this point in time, you will be very much aware that there is a program being developed specifically for Alice Springs. It is a joint arrangement with Territory Housing and IHANT, together with many other local stakeholders. This has been going on for a period of time. It relates to nuisance-type issues, quality of life-type issues and antisocial behaviour-type issues. Obviously, these do impact upon people in Alice Springs, particularly those who live in public housing and within the immediate community.
We have employed a project officer, who has been working with a whole host of people in Alice Springs to try to develop a program. The report is now complete. Discussions will take place with the stakeholders in terms of how we might be able to put in a pilot program to alleviate and address some of the issues you refer to.
I am hopeful that the program will commence in around six to eight weeks’ time.
As you, member for Braitling, are very concerned about it, and as the member for Greatorex has also raised these issues in the House in a very genuine way, I would ask you both to be participants in this project. I will ensure you are briefed in regards to it. If you can find the time to attend …
Mrs Braham: Who will deliver it?
Mr McADAM: Member for Braitling, at this stage I cannot give you an answer. However, I can endeavour to find that out as quickly as I can and I will advise you.
I do agree with you that it is an issue that has to be addressed, not only in respect offor those people who are coming in from the bush communities into Alice Springs. I believe we also have a responsibility to get that message out into the community before people come in, so they are very much aware of what the requirements are when people move into town.
Hopefully, member for Braitling, this project will go part of the way to addressing and resolving an issue which is almost a daily occurrence. Territory Housing and a whole host of other stakeholders in Alice Springs are working very hard to address this issue, as are indigenous communities in the bush,. who I will also encourage those communities to become part of this process.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. At this point in time, you will be very much aware that there is a program being developed specifically for Alice Springs. It is a joint arrangement with Territory Housing and IHANT, together with many other local stakeholders. This has been going on for a period of time. It relates to nuisance-type issues, quality of life-type issues and antisocial behaviour-type issues. Obviously, these do impact upon people in Alice Springs, particularly those who live in public housing and within the immediate community.
We have employed a project officer, who has been working with a whole host of people in Alice Springs to try to develop a program. The report is now complete. Discussions will take place with the stakeholders in terms of how we might be able to put in a pilot program to alleviate and address some of the issues you refer to.
I am hopeful that the program will commence in around six to eight weeks’ time.
As you, member for Braitling, are very concerned about it, and as the member for Greatorex has also raised these issues in the House in a very genuine way, I would ask you both to be participants in this project. I will ensure you are briefed in regards to it. If you can find the time to attend …
Mrs Braham: Who will deliver it?
Mr McADAM: Member for Braitling, at this stage I cannot give you an answer. However, I can endeavour to find that out as quickly as I can and I will advise you.
I do agree with you that it is an issue that has to be addressed, not only in respect offor those people who are coming in from the bush communities into Alice Springs. I believe we also have a responsibility to get that message out into the community before people come in, so they are very much aware of what the requirements are when people move into town.
Hopefully, member for Braitling, this project will go part of the way to addressing and resolving an issue which is almost a daily occurrence. Territory Housing and a whole host of other stakeholders in Alice Springs are working very hard to address this issue, as are indigenous communities in the bush,. who I will also encourage those communities to become part of this process.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016