Mr MILLS - 2008-02-21
On 14 February 2006, you asserted that the only people to deal with antisocial behaviour were ‘specifically trained and equipped police officers’. However, on Tuesday, you announced a policy that effectively puts public servants into the front line to deal with antisocial behaviour and the additional nearly 10 million litres of alcohol being consumed in the Territory. Is it not the case that the use of untrained, non-police officers betrays the fact that you are desperate to be seen to be doing something to address the tidal wave of alcohol and violence consuming our community? If it is not an act of desperation in using public servants instead of specifically trained police officers, do you then still stand by your comments of 14 February 2006?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I think he is confused by what I actually did announce earlier this week. I wonder if he was here for the debates and the Question Times because, if he was, he was not listening or he is just confused.
This is a government that has heavily invested in our police. We certainly did boost the number of Aboriginal Community Police Officers. Off the top of my head, I believe we have appointed an extra eight, with two additional vehicles on the road. I pay tribute to those Aboriginal Community Police Officers because, right across the Northern Territory, they do an enormously difficult and challenging job. A couple of them are personal acquaintances of mine, as well as me being their minister. I know what a tough job those men and women do across the Northern Territory. We have increased the number of police on the front line to deal with this issue.
If the Leader of the Opposition is talking about the frontline patrols I talked about earlier this week, they will be staffed by police officers, with Justice officers working with them - not going into dangerous situations, but presenting in a proactive way where we have identified camps of people living in the long grass - and approaching people outside of the law enforcement effort as a result of trouble being in these camps. They will work with people, understand where they are from, why they are here, and how we can help people to get home if they want to get home through the Return to Country program and, if people need medical attention, how we can get them that medical attention. Very importantly, if there are kids living in those camps, we can work with their families to get them somewhere safe and get people into temporary accommodation that we have provided. Those patrols will be staffed by police and people from Justice who have knowledge of the services that are available. They are not replacing frontline police at all.
We are the government that has put an extra 200 police in the front line right across the Northern Territory, compared to the devastated, demoralised police force that we inherited in 2001. We have more Aboriginal Community Police Officers right across the Northern Territory than the CLP ever had. We also have a Police Commissioner who has processes and programs in place to see those Aboriginal Community Police Officers move through the police to become fully-sworn police officers in a focused and dedicated way for the first time.
This government is committed to our police. We will continue to fund and improve police levels where needed. If you look at the history of what we have done in supporting our police, and look at what we inherited in 2001, there is a world of difference. To the Leader of the Opposition, in relation to his question, I believe he was somewhat confused.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I think he is confused by what I actually did announce earlier this week. I wonder if he was here for the debates and the Question Times because, if he was, he was not listening or he is just confused.
This is a government that has heavily invested in our police. We certainly did boost the number of Aboriginal Community Police Officers. Off the top of my head, I believe we have appointed an extra eight, with two additional vehicles on the road. I pay tribute to those Aboriginal Community Police Officers because, right across the Northern Territory, they do an enormously difficult and challenging job. A couple of them are personal acquaintances of mine, as well as me being their minister. I know what a tough job those men and women do across the Northern Territory. We have increased the number of police on the front line to deal with this issue.
If the Leader of the Opposition is talking about the frontline patrols I talked about earlier this week, they will be staffed by police officers, with Justice officers working with them - not going into dangerous situations, but presenting in a proactive way where we have identified camps of people living in the long grass - and approaching people outside of the law enforcement effort as a result of trouble being in these camps. They will work with people, understand where they are from, why they are here, and how we can help people to get home if they want to get home through the Return to Country program and, if people need medical attention, how we can get them that medical attention. Very importantly, if there are kids living in those camps, we can work with their families to get them somewhere safe and get people into temporary accommodation that we have provided. Those patrols will be staffed by police and people from Justice who have knowledge of the services that are available. They are not replacing frontline police at all.
We are the government that has put an extra 200 police in the front line right across the Northern Territory, compared to the devastated, demoralised police force that we inherited in 2001. We have more Aboriginal Community Police Officers right across the Northern Territory than the CLP ever had. We also have a Police Commissioner who has processes and programs in place to see those Aboriginal Community Police Officers move through the police to become fully-sworn police officers in a focused and dedicated way for the first time.
This government is committed to our police. We will continue to fund and improve police levels where needed. If you look at the history of what we have done in supporting our police, and look at what we inherited in 2001, there is a world of difference. To the Leader of the Opposition, in relation to his question, I believe he was somewhat confused.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016