Mr CONLAN - 2011-02-23
While you sit upstairs on the 5th floor, streets in Alice Springs are being taken over by gangs and vandals, and kids as young as 10 are rioting into the night. Some business owners have even felt it necessary to sleep in their premises overnight just to guard the businesses, as highlighted in this newspaper article. The people of Alice Springs once felt safe in their town. They now live in fortified residences and fear for the safety of their families. This is evidenced by everyday events in my office.
When will you start listening to the community of Alice Springs, step up to the plate, put more police on the beat, and protect the town of Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I accept there has been, recently, a level of crime and antisocial behaviour which is unacceptable in Alice Springs. Police have had a number of specific operations which have seen many people arrested and charged for offences. Given this is the last question in Question Time, I put some perspective in this debate. I accept many businesses are angry; however, I do not believe amplifying the problems and trashing the reputation of Alice Springs is going to solve issues for those businesses.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: There is a media release from Tourism Central Australia today with significant concerns. I will read a letter from a tourism operator to the Centralian Advocate a couple of days ago. I quote Deborah Rock, Alice Springs:
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex ...
Mr CONLAN: ... not reading out some letter that suits his agenda of deniability.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, it is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex is a grub.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Katherine! Member for Macdonnell!
Mr HENDERSON:
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We have a responsibility in this debate not to trash the reputation of Alice Springs, not to drive tourists unnecessarily away from Alice Springs, and ...
Mr Bohlin: Why do you not fix the problem?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, leave the Chamber for an hour, please.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, leave the Chamber for an hour, please.
Mr Conlan: If anyone is driving them away it is you, Chief Minister!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, leave the Chamber, please. Member for Greatorex, you will leave the Chamber for an hour, thank you.
I believe your time has expired, Chief Minister.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! With the number of Notices at the beginning of Question Time we did not get under way until approximately six or seven minutes past ...
Madam SPEAKER: The Leader of Government Business has already moved that the questions be put on the Question Paper.
Mr ELFERINK: I am speaking in relation to that motion, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: It is a motion without debate.
Mr ELFERINK: In that case, Madam Speaker, we are being truncated.
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Because it does not suit their agenda of deniability.
Mr Henderson: Get out, please!
Mr Conlan: That is all it is with you, isn’t it?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leave the Chamber!
When will you start listening to the community of Alice Springs, step up to the plate, put more police on the beat, and protect the town of Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I accept there has been, recently, a level of crime and antisocial behaviour which is unacceptable in Alice Springs. Police have had a number of specific operations which have seen many people arrested and charged for offences. Given this is the last question in Question Time, I put some perspective in this debate. I accept many businesses are angry; however, I do not believe amplifying the problems and trashing the reputation of Alice Springs is going to solve issues for those businesses.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: There is a media release from Tourism Central Australia today with significant concerns. I will read a letter from a tourism operator to the Centralian Advocate a couple of days ago. I quote Deborah Rock, Alice Springs:
- I want to be very clear here about my message. My anger at the current media campaign which started with TV ads and now continues with that appalling article in The Australian last weekend does not mean that I am denying we have a crime problem at the moment in this town. I am as aware as anyone that there has been a big spike in the past few months and that everyone is scrambling to do what they can.
What I am really annoyed with is that the law and order lobby groups and at least one Independent politician are using the media to achieve their own goals and they are doing so at the expense of other business operators around town.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex ...
Mr CONLAN: ... not reading out some letter that suits his agenda of deniability.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, it is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex is a grub.
- There are other ways to achieve change. At this rate, it is the anti-crime campaigners who stand to hurt my business even more than the gangs of criminals running around town. But for me, my annoyance goes beyond that. I am also very disturbed by the fear being stirred up around town which I think is way out of proportion right now.
I’ve heard people who haven’t been touched in any way by crime (and yes, despite what you hear there are a very large number of us) saying they are scared to leave their houses. Why? Because blasted across our media are messages telling us to be afraid ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Katherine! Member for Macdonnell!
Mr HENDERSON:
- The police have been granted additional resources in the past week and things are already calming down. Crime is not over, but we’re going in the right direction. Could everyone take a deep breath and relax, please?
I love this crazy, complicated, fascinating and beautiful town.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We have a responsibility in this debate not to trash the reputation of Alice Springs, not to drive tourists unnecessarily away from Alice Springs, and ...
Mr Bohlin: Why do you not fix the problem?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, leave the Chamber for an hour, please.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, leave the Chamber for an hour, please.
Mr Conlan: If anyone is driving them away it is you, Chief Minister!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, leave the Chamber, please. Member for Greatorex, you will leave the Chamber for an hour, thank you.
I believe your time has expired, Chief Minister.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! With the number of Notices at the beginning of Question Time we did not get under way until approximately six or seven minutes past ...
Madam SPEAKER: The Leader of Government Business has already moved that the questions be put on the Question Paper.
Mr ELFERINK: I am speaking in relation to that motion, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: It is a motion without debate.
Mr ELFERINK: In that case, Madam Speaker, we are being truncated.
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Because it does not suit their agenda of deniability.
Mr Henderson: Get out, please!
Mr Conlan: That is all it is with you, isn’t it?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leave the Chamber!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016