Ms ANDERSON - 2007-02-14
Can you update the House on the role of Aboriginal Community Police Officers in tackling antisocial behaviour in Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Macdonnell. Aboriginal Community Police Officers are a very important part of our police force. I was a bit ashamed to hear the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Araluen, denigrate community police officers in some of the comments she made in the media today. She was implying that they were worthless and, basically asked what good they are in our police force. She was also incorrect when she asserted, and she should know better as a lawyer, that they did not have powers of arrest. Wrong!
Ms Carney: Limited powers of arrest.
Dr BURNS: You said they did not have powers of arrest. Are you going to go out and correct it?
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, order!
Dr BURNS: I am still waiting for you to correct or distance yourself from those racist comments that were made yesterday at your rally.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms Carney: Get on with your job. If you are not, move over.
Dr BURNS: I am getting on with the job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Mills: You can speak!
Dr BURNS: I beg your pardon, member for Blain?
Mr Mills: You can speak on that matter, can’t you?
Dr BURNS: About racist comments?
Mr Mills: Exactly, exactly.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, member for Blain!
Dr BURNS: I ask the member for Blain what he is alluding to. He is making an assertion and allegation which is very serious.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I have to say I could not hear what the member for Blain said.
Dr BURNS: I ask that he withdraw it, Madam Speaker, because he is asserting that I am a racist.
Ms Carney: What?
Dr BURNS: He just did.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain, is this the case?
Mr MILLS: No, not at all, Madam Speaker. The honourable member was making assertions with regard to comments that had been made in the media yesterday and I said: ‘You can talk’. That is all I said.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, resume your seat.
Mr MILLS: I can give further explanation if required.
Madam SPEAKER: If you wish to make a personal explanation, you can talk to me later. Leader of the Opposition, were you making allegations in relation to the minister?
Ms CARNEY: Certainly not, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Okay. Resume your seat. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in the greater Darwin area, there are approximately 22 Aboriginal Community Police Officers. Nine are stationed at Darwin, six at Casuarina, and seven at Palmerston. The Greater Darwin Regional Command has implemented a number of strategies to address social order issues that can have a negative impact on members of our community. These APCOs have been assigned to the Social Order Units. They monitor and patrol identified hot spot locations within the greater Darwin area and generally deal with issues of drunkenness and antisocial behaviour with a focus on intoxicated people and alcohol consumption in public places in contravention of the Summary Offences Act.
Since 1 July 2006, Aboriginal Community Police Officers operating in the greater Darwin region have taken 6620 people to the watch-house, and a further 6249 people to a sobering-up shelter. Currently, members of the Social Order Units are targeting defined areas within the Darwin and Palmerston areas and the central business districts.
They also liaise with Territory Housing regarding problem residents, including those living in high density Housing Commission estates, and pay special attention to new restricted premises. They also liaise with the Larrakia Nation.
Madam Speaker, ACPOs are a vital part of our police force and the intelligence-led policing approach. I am very pleased to acknowledge the pivotal role that they play in our police force and community.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Macdonnell. Aboriginal Community Police Officers are a very important part of our police force. I was a bit ashamed to hear the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Araluen, denigrate community police officers in some of the comments she made in the media today. She was implying that they were worthless and, basically asked what good they are in our police force. She was also incorrect when she asserted, and she should know better as a lawyer, that they did not have powers of arrest. Wrong!
Ms Carney: Limited powers of arrest.
Dr BURNS: You said they did not have powers of arrest. Are you going to go out and correct it?
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, order!
Dr BURNS: I am still waiting for you to correct or distance yourself from those racist comments that were made yesterday at your rally.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms Carney: Get on with your job. If you are not, move over.
Dr BURNS: I am getting on with the job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Mills: You can speak!
Dr BURNS: I beg your pardon, member for Blain?
Mr Mills: You can speak on that matter, can’t you?
Dr BURNS: About racist comments?
Mr Mills: Exactly, exactly.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, member for Blain!
Dr BURNS: I ask the member for Blain what he is alluding to. He is making an assertion and allegation which is very serious.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I have to say I could not hear what the member for Blain said.
Dr BURNS: I ask that he withdraw it, Madam Speaker, because he is asserting that I am a racist.
Ms Carney: What?
Dr BURNS: He just did.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain, is this the case?
Mr MILLS: No, not at all, Madam Speaker. The honourable member was making assertions with regard to comments that had been made in the media yesterday and I said: ‘You can talk’. That is all I said.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, resume your seat.
Mr MILLS: I can give further explanation if required.
Madam SPEAKER: If you wish to make a personal explanation, you can talk to me later. Leader of the Opposition, were you making allegations in relation to the minister?
Ms CARNEY: Certainly not, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Okay. Resume your seat. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in the greater Darwin area, there are approximately 22 Aboriginal Community Police Officers. Nine are stationed at Darwin, six at Casuarina, and seven at Palmerston. The Greater Darwin Regional Command has implemented a number of strategies to address social order issues that can have a negative impact on members of our community. These APCOs have been assigned to the Social Order Units. They monitor and patrol identified hot spot locations within the greater Darwin area and generally deal with issues of drunkenness and antisocial behaviour with a focus on intoxicated people and alcohol consumption in public places in contravention of the Summary Offences Act.
Since 1 July 2006, Aboriginal Community Police Officers operating in the greater Darwin region have taken 6620 people to the watch-house, and a further 6249 people to a sobering-up shelter. Currently, members of the Social Order Units are targeting defined areas within the Darwin and Palmerston areas and the central business districts.
They also liaise with Territory Housing regarding problem residents, including those living in high density Housing Commission estates, and pay special attention to new restricted premises. They also liaise with the Larrakia Nation.
Madam Speaker, ACPOs are a vital part of our police force and the intelligence-led policing approach. I am very pleased to acknowledge the pivotal role that they play in our police force and community.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016