Mr BELL - 1995-02-22
Mr Speaker, I refer the Attorney-General to the McAulay/Bowe report which was debated in this Assembly yesterday. It states that there has been a massive increase in crime statistics in the Northern Territory. The report said:
Victims also expressed the view that, despite statements to the contrary, the government is not really serious in its expression of support for law enforcement.
When did the Attorney-General first become aware of the massive increase in crime rates and why did he duck his responsibilities to the victims of crime in the Northern Territory and fail to report that observation to the Legislative Assembly?
ANSWER
What an absolutely nonsensical question, Mr Speaker!
Members interjecting.
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Mr FINCH: Mr Speaker, when you start quoting ad hoc figures in this Assembly, you need to be ...
Members interjecting.
Mr FINCH: The responsibilities of the Attorney-General relate to matters pertaining to victim support systems and the administration of justice. My responsibility to report on a version of increased crimes statistics is limited.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr FINCH: It is limited.
This CLP government turns on the delivery of justice to the community.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: I have never yet resorted to determining our policies on the basis of correspondence with murderers and other jail inmates - the sole source of advice to members opposite. Criminal justice Labor fashion has never worked and will never work. This CLP government has concentrated on the victim. That is what the whole basis of our justice policies.
Mr Ede: There has been a 60% increase in crime and you are not interested.
Mr FINCH: In relation to crime statistics, Mr Speaker, one of the things the review team reported on is the very high clear-up rate by a very professional, well-equipped and well-staffed police force.
Mr Ede: What!
Mr FINCH: Read page 7 of the report.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: The report states: 'Overall, we formed the impression that the Northern Territory Police Service is a high-tech, well-equipped, efficient, well-managed organisation enjoying very high levels of community support, despite a few quite strident criticisms of members individually and collectively'.
Mr Ede: Is it understaffed or not?
Mr FINCH: If you want to talk about crime and clear-up rates etc, take yourself across to New South Wales.
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Mr Stirling: We live in the Northern Territory. We want to know about the level in the Territory!
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable member for Nhulunbuy, I have heard about enough of this discussion across the Chamber. Next time, I will name you.
Mr FINCH: When it comes to clear-up rates, irrespective of the statistical measure taken, there is no doubt that the Northern Territory is the best in the country. I was about to comment on the situation in Sydney. I go there occasionally and I talk to my young brother. The people in that city do not bother reporting break and enters unless the value is over $10 000. Therefore, not only is the reporting level higher in the Northern Territory, but the clear-up rate is higher too. If a crime is not reported, it does not become an unsolved crime, does it?
Mr Ede: You are an embarrassment.
Mr FINCH: It is not an embarrassment at all. Our figures are probably something to be very proud of. Of course, when it comes to those kinds of objective comparisons, members of the Labor Party fail dismally every time they are challenged.
We acknowledge that one of the difficulties with crime statistics - and this is mentioned in the report - is that different units of measure are used around the country. On the one hand, there is no doubt in my mind and in the community's mind that we have an enormously successful clear-up rate. Last month, some fairly horrific crimes were reported in the Northern Territory and that made banner headlines. The next day or the day after, people read about the arrests that followed. I am sure that a performance like that is the envy of people in other parts of the country. The Territory does extremely well in terms of finding and convicting the culprits on behalf of the victims. We also put enormous effort into the provision of various forms of victim support.
Members opposite quite rightly champion their Aboriginal constituents. They would recognise that the resources directed to the Aboriginal people are enormous, not only through the Commonwealth/ATSIC-funded legal aid services, but also through the court systems themselves. The government expends considerable taxpayers' funds to support those systems. When it comes to the delivery of justice to its citizens, the Territory government is second to none.
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Victims also expressed the view that, despite statements to the contrary, the government is not really serious in its expression of support for law enforcement.
When did the Attorney-General first become aware of the massive increase in crime rates and why did he duck his responsibilities to the victims of crime in the Northern Territory and fail to report that observation to the Legislative Assembly?
ANSWER
What an absolutely nonsensical question, Mr Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Page 425
Mr FINCH: Mr Speaker, when you start quoting ad hoc figures in this Assembly, you need to be ...
Members interjecting.
Mr FINCH: The responsibilities of the Attorney-General relate to matters pertaining to victim support systems and the administration of justice. My responsibility to report on a version of increased crimes statistics is limited.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr FINCH: It is limited.
This CLP government turns on the delivery of justice to the community.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: I have never yet resorted to determining our policies on the basis of correspondence with murderers and other jail inmates - the sole source of advice to members opposite. Criminal justice Labor fashion has never worked and will never work. This CLP government has concentrated on the victim. That is what the whole basis of our justice policies.
Mr Ede: There has been a 60% increase in crime and you are not interested.
Mr FINCH: In relation to crime statistics, Mr Speaker, one of the things the review team reported on is the very high clear-up rate by a very professional, well-equipped and well-staffed police force.
Mr Ede: What!
Mr FINCH: Read page 7 of the report.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: The report states: 'Overall, we formed the impression that the Northern Territory Police Service is a high-tech, well-equipped, efficient, well-managed organisation enjoying very high levels of community support, despite a few quite strident criticisms of members individually and collectively'.
Mr Ede: Is it understaffed or not?
Mr FINCH: If you want to talk about crime and clear-up rates etc, take yourself across to New South Wales.
Page 426
Mr Stirling: We live in the Northern Territory. We want to know about the level in the Territory!
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable member for Nhulunbuy, I have heard about enough of this discussion across the Chamber. Next time, I will name you.
Mr FINCH: When it comes to clear-up rates, irrespective of the statistical measure taken, there is no doubt that the Northern Territory is the best in the country. I was about to comment on the situation in Sydney. I go there occasionally and I talk to my young brother. The people in that city do not bother reporting break and enters unless the value is over $10 000. Therefore, not only is the reporting level higher in the Northern Territory, but the clear-up rate is higher too. If a crime is not reported, it does not become an unsolved crime, does it?
Mr Ede: You are an embarrassment.
Mr FINCH: It is not an embarrassment at all. Our figures are probably something to be very proud of. Of course, when it comes to those kinds of objective comparisons, members of the Labor Party fail dismally every time they are challenged.
We acknowledge that one of the difficulties with crime statistics - and this is mentioned in the report - is that different units of measure are used around the country. On the one hand, there is no doubt in my mind and in the community's mind that we have an enormously successful clear-up rate. Last month, some fairly horrific crimes were reported in the Northern Territory and that made banner headlines. The next day or the day after, people read about the arrests that followed. I am sure that a performance like that is the envy of people in other parts of the country. The Territory does extremely well in terms of finding and convicting the culprits on behalf of the victims. We also put enormous effort into the provision of various forms of victim support.
Members opposite quite rightly champion their Aboriginal constituents. They would recognise that the resources directed to the Aboriginal people are enormous, not only through the Commonwealth/ATSIC-funded legal aid services, but also through the court systems themselves. The government expends considerable taxpayers' funds to support those systems. When it comes to the delivery of justice to its citizens, the Territory government is second to none.
Page 427
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016