Mr MILLS - 2011-10-18
Yesterday, you claimed a drop in alcohol-related assaults because of the Banned Drinker Register; however, your figures are dodgy. You chose to compare statistics for a full quarter last year with this year’s quarter, but you held back five days-worth of figures. How many assaults were recorded during those five days? Will you now apologise to Territorians for deliberately misleading them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am advised there was a typo in the documentation, but the figures are accurate. What it shows is these reforms are starting to bite; that we are seeing a reduction in alcohol-related assaults and violence across the Northern Territory as a result of the Banned Drinker Register and the suite of policy initiatives we have put in place.
We all know that if you want to tackle crime you have to tackle grog. Sixty percent of all violent crime is alcohol-related, and the vast majority of domestic violence is alcohol-related, so turning problem drinkers off tap will reduce the incidence of violence. Since these reforms kicked in on 1 July, 1500 people have been banned from accessing alcohol. That is a significant achievement. I pay tribute to our police force who have grasped this weapon we have given them to tackle alcohol-related crime and have run really hard and to great effect.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Payne was on the news last night saying, once again, that this is the most significant legislative tool the police have ever had to deal with violence, crime, and antisocial behaviour across the Northern Territory. Despite of that affirmation from our police, the CLP says it would scrap it. To those 1500 people who are banned from accessing grog as a result of repeat drink-driving, acts of violence, alcohol-induced domestic violence, being picked up and taken into protective custody over and over again, the CLP has said: ‘We will turn the tap back on, and all you guys and girls, you are back into it, back onto the grog’. There are 1500 people who are currently banned from accessing alcohol, who are not committing acts of violence because of their ban from alcohol.
These figures are trending in the right direction. If you want to tackle crime, you have to tackle grog. I am proud of the reforms this government has taken. They have been tough and courageous. They are the toughest alcohol laws in this nation, if not in many parts of the world, and we are already seeing significant results.
What we do know is the opposition would take us backwards. They would take us back to the dark days when people could get whatever they want, whenever they want, from wherever they want. We will not be doing that. We will be sticking with these reforms. The reforms have been endorsed by police men and women who are out there every day tackling crime, violence and antisocial behaviour. The CLP would scrap it.
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister, in his defence, said it was a typo. Given that you and your government have chosen to withhold official crime data, could you please produce the evidence to back up your claim that it was simply a typo; and will you now make a public statement to Territorians to reassure them that it was not dodgy data?
ANSWER
Oh dear, oh dear. I am quite happy to table these figures that show the following results for recorded assaults between July and September by region and alcohol involvement. Alcohol-related for Darwin is down 20.6%. Alcohol-related for Palmerston is down 23.5%. Alcohol-related for Katherine is down 15.8%. Alcohol-related for Alice Springs is down 17.5%. Alcohol-related for Tennant Creek is down 19.5%. Alcohol total average for the Northern Territory ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I have asked for the official data to be tabled so the claims can be verified.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has already indicated he will table it.
Mr HENDERSON: I am just reading out to this House, and to people who are listening, the significant reductions in alcohol-related violence. These are the official figures. They tell the true story. The CLP would see those 1500 people who currently, as a result of their appalling behaviour, cannot access alcohol, back on the grog again tomorrow …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms Lawrie: He has tabled it.
Mr ELFERINK: It has been tabled? All right.
Members interjecting.
Mr Elferink: I am just being careful. You cannot trust you guys.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am advised there was a typo in the documentation, but the figures are accurate. What it shows is these reforms are starting to bite; that we are seeing a reduction in alcohol-related assaults and violence across the Northern Territory as a result of the Banned Drinker Register and the suite of policy initiatives we have put in place.
We all know that if you want to tackle crime you have to tackle grog. Sixty percent of all violent crime is alcohol-related, and the vast majority of domestic violence is alcohol-related, so turning problem drinkers off tap will reduce the incidence of violence. Since these reforms kicked in on 1 July, 1500 people have been banned from accessing alcohol. That is a significant achievement. I pay tribute to our police force who have grasped this weapon we have given them to tackle alcohol-related crime and have run really hard and to great effect.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Payne was on the news last night saying, once again, that this is the most significant legislative tool the police have ever had to deal with violence, crime, and antisocial behaviour across the Northern Territory. Despite of that affirmation from our police, the CLP says it would scrap it. To those 1500 people who are banned from accessing grog as a result of repeat drink-driving, acts of violence, alcohol-induced domestic violence, being picked up and taken into protective custody over and over again, the CLP has said: ‘We will turn the tap back on, and all you guys and girls, you are back into it, back onto the grog’. There are 1500 people who are currently banned from accessing alcohol, who are not committing acts of violence because of their ban from alcohol.
These figures are trending in the right direction. If you want to tackle crime, you have to tackle grog. I am proud of the reforms this government has taken. They have been tough and courageous. They are the toughest alcohol laws in this nation, if not in many parts of the world, and we are already seeing significant results.
What we do know is the opposition would take us backwards. They would take us back to the dark days when people could get whatever they want, whenever they want, from wherever they want. We will not be doing that. We will be sticking with these reforms. The reforms have been endorsed by police men and women who are out there every day tackling crime, violence and antisocial behaviour. The CLP would scrap it.
Supplementary Question
Alcohol-related Assaults - Statistics
Alcohol-related Assaults - Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister, in his defence, said it was a typo. Given that you and your government have chosen to withhold official crime data, could you please produce the evidence to back up your claim that it was simply a typo; and will you now make a public statement to Territorians to reassure them that it was not dodgy data?
ANSWER
Oh dear, oh dear. I am quite happy to table these figures that show the following results for recorded assaults between July and September by region and alcohol involvement. Alcohol-related for Darwin is down 20.6%. Alcohol-related for Palmerston is down 23.5%. Alcohol-related for Katherine is down 15.8%. Alcohol-related for Alice Springs is down 17.5%. Alcohol-related for Tennant Creek is down 19.5%. Alcohol total average for the Northern Territory ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I have asked for the official data to be tabled so the claims can be verified.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has already indicated he will table it.
Mr HENDERSON: I am just reading out to this House, and to people who are listening, the significant reductions in alcohol-related violence. These are the official figures. They tell the true story. The CLP would see those 1500 people who currently, as a result of their appalling behaviour, cannot access alcohol, back on the grog again tomorrow …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms Lawrie: He has tabled it.
Mr ELFERINK: It has been tabled? All right.
Members interjecting.
Mr Elferink: I am just being careful. You cannot trust you guys.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016