Mr ADAMSON - 1995-11-30
Apparently the Northern Territory will be well represented at next year's Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Among others, members of the Northern Territory Police Service will be present. What is the role of Territory police officers at the Olympics?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the coopting of Northern Territory police officers to undertake security details at the Atlanta Olympics in the United States is another recognition of the training and professional standards achieved by the comparatively small Northern Territory Police Service.
Mr Stirling: It would be nice to have a couple of extra officers in Nhulunbuy.
Mr STONE: The member for Nhulunbuy interjects. I thought he would be as pleased as
Punch ...
Mr Stirling: I am very pleased, but we would like to have a full complement of police officers at Nhulunbuy before you start sending them off around the world!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: ... police force had actually been selected. As the answer unfolds, he will realise exactly what a fool he has made of himself.
Mr Stirling: You send them to Alice Springs and give everyone else ...
Mr STONE: Allow me to continue with my answer, and then perhaps you might get to your feet and apologise to Territory police for what you have just done.
Mr Stirling: I am standing up for them. That is what I am doing.
Mr STONE: For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the Atlanta games committee decided to go outside the host country for police expertise to help with crowd control and security. The committee advertised worldwide for serving and retired police officers to apply to work in security in Atlanta, on a voluntary basis, for the Olympic Games, which will last from 16 July 1996 to 4 August 1996.
This recruitment drive produced 6500 applicants from police forces and retired police officers around the world, and a little over 1000 were selected to go to Atlanta. Of these 1000, 8 members of the Northern Territory Police Force nominated themselves successfully to go to Atlanta. They are: Detective Senior Constables Wendy Brown, Chris Leo and
Page 1111
Deborah Harris; and Senior Constables Glenys Green, Naomi Lockhart, Rhonda Holloway, Mary-ann Sty and Martin Holloway. Members will note that 7 of the 8-member Northern Territory police contingent are women. These members will pay their own way to Atlanta and will use their holiday entitlements to work on the games security team.
Had the member for Nhulunbuy waited before he rudely interrupted me and made a goose of himself ...
Mr Stirling: I did not make a goose of myself ...
Mr STONE: ... he would have realised that this was volunteered in their own time and at their own cost.
Mr Stirling: They have been waiting years to ...
Mr STONE: According to Atlanta's security team program information sheet, the 26th Olympiad will be a showcase not only for the athletes but also for law enforcement officers to display their professionalism to the world. Eleven million tickets will be sold ...
Mr Stirling: Pronounce it correctly. Didn't you learn anything in Greece?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, I know that police officers ...
Mr Stirling: You wasted the $30 000 the member for Jingili spent on his clause 4.1 travel.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, it is a shame. I know that police officers are listening to this broadcast because they were aware that this question would be asked this morning. It is a matter of pride to them. The member for Nhulunbuy, in his belittling, begrudging, curmudgeonly way ...
Mr Stirling: Your government is crucifying the police at Gove. You have done nothing for them for 4 years.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nhulunbuy is on shaky ground at present. I will be giving him this one chance. Next will be a warning.
Mr STONE: What a shame that he sought to spoil the police being mentioned here today.
Eleven million tickets to the games will be sold and Atlanta expects a television audience of 16 billion people. To quote the security team manager, Jim Cosgrove: `By using the skills of law enforcement officers who are already trained in security techniques, cultural awareness, community affairs and how to relate with people on a daily basis, STP candidates will bring
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supervisory and technical abilities never before experienced on a volunteer level to the Olympic Games'.
I consider it a great plus for the Territory that our police will be so much part of the world's biggest sport event in 1996. It is a pleasure to place on the record that the reputation of the Northern Territory Police Service has gone before the 7 female and 1 male officer who have successfully volunteered their services to the Olympic Committee in Atlanta, Georgia. I wish them well at the Olympic Games.
Members: Hear, hear!!
Page 1113
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the coopting of Northern Territory police officers to undertake security details at the Atlanta Olympics in the United States is another recognition of the training and professional standards achieved by the comparatively small Northern Territory Police Service.
Mr Stirling: It would be nice to have a couple of extra officers in Nhulunbuy.
Mr STONE: The member for Nhulunbuy interjects. I thought he would be as pleased as
Punch ...
Mr Stirling: I am very pleased, but we would like to have a full complement of police officers at Nhulunbuy before you start sending them off around the world!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: ... police force had actually been selected. As the answer unfolds, he will realise exactly what a fool he has made of himself.
Mr Stirling: You send them to Alice Springs and give everyone else ...
Mr STONE: Allow me to continue with my answer, and then perhaps you might get to your feet and apologise to Territory police for what you have just done.
Mr Stirling: I am standing up for them. That is what I am doing.
Mr STONE: For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the Atlanta games committee decided to go outside the host country for police expertise to help with crowd control and security. The committee advertised worldwide for serving and retired police officers to apply to work in security in Atlanta, on a voluntary basis, for the Olympic Games, which will last from 16 July 1996 to 4 August 1996.
This recruitment drive produced 6500 applicants from police forces and retired police officers around the world, and a little over 1000 were selected to go to Atlanta. Of these 1000, 8 members of the Northern Territory Police Force nominated themselves successfully to go to Atlanta. They are: Detective Senior Constables Wendy Brown, Chris Leo and
Page 1111
Deborah Harris; and Senior Constables Glenys Green, Naomi Lockhart, Rhonda Holloway, Mary-ann Sty and Martin Holloway. Members will note that 7 of the 8-member Northern Territory police contingent are women. These members will pay their own way to Atlanta and will use their holiday entitlements to work on the games security team.
Had the member for Nhulunbuy waited before he rudely interrupted me and made a goose of himself ...
Mr Stirling: I did not make a goose of myself ...
Mr STONE: ... he would have realised that this was volunteered in their own time and at their own cost.
Mr Stirling: They have been waiting years to ...
Mr STONE: According to Atlanta's security team program information sheet, the 26th Olympiad will be a showcase not only for the athletes but also for law enforcement officers to display their professionalism to the world. Eleven million tickets will be sold ...
Mr Stirling: Pronounce it correctly. Didn't you learn anything in Greece?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, I know that police officers ...
Mr Stirling: You wasted the $30 000 the member for Jingili spent on his clause 4.1 travel.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, it is a shame. I know that police officers are listening to this broadcast because they were aware that this question would be asked this morning. It is a matter of pride to them. The member for Nhulunbuy, in his belittling, begrudging, curmudgeonly way ...
Mr Stirling: Your government is crucifying the police at Gove. You have done nothing for them for 4 years.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nhulunbuy is on shaky ground at present. I will be giving him this one chance. Next will be a warning.
Mr STONE: What a shame that he sought to spoil the police being mentioned here today.
Eleven million tickets to the games will be sold and Atlanta expects a television audience of 16 billion people. To quote the security team manager, Jim Cosgrove: `By using the skills of law enforcement officers who are already trained in security techniques, cultural awareness, community affairs and how to relate with people on a daily basis, STP candidates will bring
Page 1112
supervisory and technical abilities never before experienced on a volunteer level to the Olympic Games'.
I consider it a great plus for the Territory that our police will be so much part of the world's biggest sport event in 1996. It is a pleasure to place on the record that the reputation of the Northern Territory Police Service has gone before the 7 female and 1 male officer who have successfully volunteered their services to the Olympic Committee in Atlanta, Georgia. I wish them well at the Olympic Games.
Members: Hear, hear!!
Page 1113
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016