Ms McCARTHY - 2007-10-16
Yesterday morning, the member for Solomon said on ABC local radio that liquor laws associated with the Commonwealth intervention will be scrapped within six months. Is this statement by the member for Solomon correct?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I do not believe his statement is correct. However, there is an old saying about history repeating itself. Those of us who have been around for a while just have to look at statements by the member for Solomon both in this election campaign and the 2004 campaign to see history repeating itself.
As most people would be aware, in 2004 he was repudiating plans to put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory and, on 29 September 2004, he told Julia Christensen: ‘I am not going to sit around and watch a nuclear waste dump put in the Northern Territory. I have said it time and time again’. Madam Speaker, what we know now is that he did exactly what he said he was not going to do. He sat around and has allowed it to progress. He is Canberra’s man in the Northern Territory. He has not stood up for the Northern Territory in relation to this and he certainly has not kept his word in relation to that issue.
He was at it again yesterday after a deafening silence on this issue of alcohol laws and in particular the $100 takeaway rule. He has finally come to the realisation that Territorians think it is a silly law. It is silly to have to give your address to say where it is going to be consumed, that there are privacy issues involved, notwithstanding also that three years of records have to be kept and, as I outlined in the last question, it is certainly making it tough for industry.
When he was interviewed yesterday by Julia Christensen on ABC local radio in relation to $100 takeaway law, he said: ‘The liquor laws are only going to be around for the next six months while the national emergency is continuing. They will go’. So another assurance from the member for Solomon, and I think we can all take it with a grain of salt after his first effort in relation to nuclear waste dumps.
It was interesting to see the piece on page four of the Northern Territory News today: ‘NT Grog Ban set for Review’.
Here is the crucial paragraph, Madam Speaker:
I say to Territorians: beware! I started with the proverb of history repeating itself. There is another old proverb: once bitten, twice shy. I recommend that to voters in the upcoming federal election in the seat of Solomon.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I do not believe his statement is correct. However, there is an old saying about history repeating itself. Those of us who have been around for a while just have to look at statements by the member for Solomon both in this election campaign and the 2004 campaign to see history repeating itself.
As most people would be aware, in 2004 he was repudiating plans to put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory and, on 29 September 2004, he told Julia Christensen: ‘I am not going to sit around and watch a nuclear waste dump put in the Northern Territory. I have said it time and time again’. Madam Speaker, what we know now is that he did exactly what he said he was not going to do. He sat around and has allowed it to progress. He is Canberra’s man in the Northern Territory. He has not stood up for the Northern Territory in relation to this and he certainly has not kept his word in relation to that issue.
He was at it again yesterday after a deafening silence on this issue of alcohol laws and in particular the $100 takeaway rule. He has finally come to the realisation that Territorians think it is a silly law. It is silly to have to give your address to say where it is going to be consumed, that there are privacy issues involved, notwithstanding also that three years of records have to be kept and, as I outlined in the last question, it is certainly making it tough for industry.
When he was interviewed yesterday by Julia Christensen on ABC local radio in relation to $100 takeaway law, he said: ‘The liquor laws are only going to be around for the next six months while the national emergency is continuing. They will go’. So another assurance from the member for Solomon, and I think we can all take it with a grain of salt after his first effort in relation to nuclear waste dumps.
It was interesting to see the piece on page four of the Northern Territory News today: ‘NT Grog Ban set for Review’.
- The federal government could not guarantee the Territory’s alcohol restrictions would be removed after six months despite a promise by Solomon MHR David Tollner.
Mr Tollner told the Northern Territory News in July new alcohol restrictions would only last six months.
‘I will make sure it does not last longer than six months, I will make it my business’, he said.
Here is the crucial paragraph, Madam Speaker:
- Last night, Indigenous Affairs minister Mal Brough, said the laws will be reviewed towards the end of six months, but not necessarily withdrawn.
I say to Territorians: beware! I started with the proverb of history repeating itself. There is another old proverb: once bitten, twice shy. I recommend that to voters in the upcoming federal election in the seat of Solomon.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016