Mr MILLS - 2003-06-17
Some of us have sons and they sometimes get into trouble, but that is not the issue. Minister, during questioning of your son into the complaint against him, did you intervene and speak to the police? Was this done by phone, or at your house? Following this conversation, was a complaint about your conduct raised by the police?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Blain, and I am perfectly happy to answer it. Before I do, though, I query in what guise he is doing it. Is he the shadow Attorney-General? Is he the shadow police minister? Or is he just a contender for the leadership who got burned out? This bunch of canaries over here are dragging this grubby stuff out more than a year after it happened, on a day that they need a political straw to stop them all going under. Having said that, I am prepared to answer the question.
Yes, the police did ring my home. My son and I spoke to them. The police wanted to question my son, who was home, although he usually works that night, and I invited them around. They came to my house. An interview was held there, in the presence of my lawyer also, I might add.
I would tell the member for Blain to be very careful where you go here - either in here or outside - and I will say this to the members of the media who are present: this has been circling around the turbid cesspit of the CLP for some time. I was asked this question by a couple of journalists - one of them from the NT News - towards the end of last year. I gave them a short answer. Maybe this will short-circuit some of the questions for you, member for Blain.
My son was interviewed by police and charged with this minor traffic offence. He subsequently went to court, pleaded guilty, and was fined.
Mr Mills: You are the issue here, not your son.
Dr BURNS: In terms of any allegations there may be against me, I am prepared to stand up here, and anywhere else outside this place, and look anyone squarely in the eye to tell them that I have done nothing wrong, except to be a parent looking after the interests of his son, helping his son to face up to the justice system. I have done nothing wrong.
Member for Blain, I would have to say, a lot of people have been talking about you over the last week or two, and when anyone asks me about you, I say you are a decent man. I have said that you are a decent man and that you are not tainted by what has happened before within the CLP. Well, member for Blain, unfortunately, I am changing my view about you. This is a grubby exercise by a mob that is going down the tube quicker than flushing the toilet. Let me say something - there are more deputies on that side than a posse.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Blain, and I am perfectly happy to answer it. Before I do, though, I query in what guise he is doing it. Is he the shadow Attorney-General? Is he the shadow police minister? Or is he just a contender for the leadership who got burned out? This bunch of canaries over here are dragging this grubby stuff out more than a year after it happened, on a day that they need a political straw to stop them all going under. Having said that, I am prepared to answer the question.
Yes, the police did ring my home. My son and I spoke to them. The police wanted to question my son, who was home, although he usually works that night, and I invited them around. They came to my house. An interview was held there, in the presence of my lawyer also, I might add.
I would tell the member for Blain to be very careful where you go here - either in here or outside - and I will say this to the members of the media who are present: this has been circling around the turbid cesspit of the CLP for some time. I was asked this question by a couple of journalists - one of them from the NT News - towards the end of last year. I gave them a short answer. Maybe this will short-circuit some of the questions for you, member for Blain.
My son was interviewed by police and charged with this minor traffic offence. He subsequently went to court, pleaded guilty, and was fined.
Mr Mills: You are the issue here, not your son.
Dr BURNS: In terms of any allegations there may be against me, I am prepared to stand up here, and anywhere else outside this place, and look anyone squarely in the eye to tell them that I have done nothing wrong, except to be a parent looking after the interests of his son, helping his son to face up to the justice system. I have done nothing wrong.
Member for Blain, I would have to say, a lot of people have been talking about you over the last week or two, and when anyone asks me about you, I say you are a decent man. I have said that you are a decent man and that you are not tainted by what has happened before within the CLP. Well, member for Blain, unfortunately, I am changing my view about you. This is a grubby exercise by a mob that is going down the tube quicker than flushing the toilet. Let me say something - there are more deputies on that side than a posse.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016