Ms CARNEY - 2009-02-19
With respect to the package of measures that were announced this morning, which amount to a good first step to tackling law and order issues in Alice Springs, you announced that a police shopfront would be established in Todd Mall in July. Can you advise whether it will be staffed 24 hours a day, and if it will be adequately staffed so that police will be based at the shopfront and staff will patrol the mall? The announcement of 10 new constables is an existing commitment from government. When exactly will these 10 extra police arrive? And, why did you not promise any police officers over and above what has already been promised, because, as you know, we need extra police now?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I acknowledge again the bipartisan approach to these issues in Alice Springs with my colleagues on the other side.
In regard to police matters, I am happy to hand over to the Police minister shortly, but I can add that operational times will be decided by police, based on community consultations, police statistics and other police intelligence.
Ms Carney: So you do not know whether it will be 24 hours a day?
Mr HAMPTON: The Police Beat will be located in the CBD area, member for Araluen. That site is to be chosen by the police, given all that information.
The 10 additional police officers is a commitment from the Henderson government and that is to be delivered in the next financial year.
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to provide more detail to the member for Araluen. I am pleased to see there are some members on the other side who think that our initiative for police beats is actually a good idea, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who said on 15 December that he would close them down. I still have a bit of an issue in terms of whether they actually support police beats or not, Madam Speaker. I am glad the member for Araluen does, and I think the member for Braitling does as well, so that is good.
The commitment is to staff the shopfront. It is funded. It was an election commitment, which will be for two shifts of police. Police will determine operationally how that will work; that will be an issue for the police.
In regard to the 10 additional police, that is scheduled for the 2009-10 financial year. It will happen as soon as we possibly can within the 2009-10 financial year, as scheduled. This government has a very strong track record in supplying more police to Central Australia than ever before. This is a good initiative; it has been brought forward. The 10 additional police will be in Alice Springs, as scheduled, in the 2009-10 financial year.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I acknowledge again the bipartisan approach to these issues in Alice Springs with my colleagues on the other side.
In regard to police matters, I am happy to hand over to the Police minister shortly, but I can add that operational times will be decided by police, based on community consultations, police statistics and other police intelligence.
Ms Carney: So you do not know whether it will be 24 hours a day?
Mr HAMPTON: The Police Beat will be located in the CBD area, member for Araluen. That site is to be chosen by the police, given all that information.
The 10 additional police officers is a commitment from the Henderson government and that is to be delivered in the next financial year.
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to provide more detail to the member for Araluen. I am pleased to see there are some members on the other side who think that our initiative for police beats is actually a good idea, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who said on 15 December that he would close them down. I still have a bit of an issue in terms of whether they actually support police beats or not, Madam Speaker. I am glad the member for Araluen does, and I think the member for Braitling does as well, so that is good.
The commitment is to staff the shopfront. It is funded. It was an election commitment, which will be for two shifts of police. Police will determine operationally how that will work; that will be an issue for the police.
In regard to the 10 additional police, that is scheduled for the 2009-10 financial year. It will happen as soon as we possibly can within the 2009-10 financial year, as scheduled. This government has a very strong track record in supplying more police to Central Australia than ever before. This is a good initiative; it has been brought forward. The 10 additional police will be in Alice Springs, as scheduled, in the 2009-10 financial year.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016