Ms WALKER - 2011-02-22
Can you inform the House how you plan to pull the community of Alice Springs together to tackle the unacceptable behaviour in the town?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I begin by reiterating that crime and bad behaviour is totally unacceptable, even in Alice Springs. The current media focus on Alice Springs paints a grim picture. I know the town of Alice Springs is a ‘can do’ town. It is a community which pulls together in tough times. That is why I am calling on the town and the community to work together to find solutions and move forward.
We have heard a great deal in this debate in recent weeks, particularly from the business community, a very important sector in our community. I understand their frustrations. Government has heard their cries for help. I understand the frustrations and the anger of the business community, those residents who have had their properties broken into, and also the tourists who are visiting our town. This type of behaviour and crime is totally unacceptable.
I live in Alice Springs, I talk to people every day when I am there - whether it is walking down the street, going to one of the clubs, or shopping in Woolies ...
Mr Giles: Rung any of the businesses yet?
Mr HAMPTON: I have.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: With the Deputy Chief Minister, I met with representatives of businesses in Alice Springs. I live in the community and I talk to people on a daily basis, whether they are from the business sector, the Aboriginal sector, or residents around the town. I believe this issue has to be tackled in a whole-of-community way. That is why I have called for a meeting with the Aboriginal community ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr HAMPTON: ... because, to date, this important part of our community has been left out of the debate ...
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: As I said, to date, this sector of our community – the Aboriginal community – has been left out of the debate. That is why I have called a meeting for Central Australian Aboriginal leaders this Friday in Alice Springs. The business and Aboriginal communities are very important to the cultural, social and economic future of our town; you cannot have one without the other. To date, they have been left out of the debate. What I am aiming to do is pull the business community together with the Aboriginal community to sit around the table and talk about this and find solutions together.
The Northern Territory government is committed to turning this around, as I am - absolutely committed to turning this situation around ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I begin by reiterating that crime and bad behaviour is totally unacceptable, even in Alice Springs. The current media focus on Alice Springs paints a grim picture. I know the town of Alice Springs is a ‘can do’ town. It is a community which pulls together in tough times. That is why I am calling on the town and the community to work together to find solutions and move forward.
We have heard a great deal in this debate in recent weeks, particularly from the business community, a very important sector in our community. I understand their frustrations. Government has heard their cries for help. I understand the frustrations and the anger of the business community, those residents who have had their properties broken into, and also the tourists who are visiting our town. This type of behaviour and crime is totally unacceptable.
I live in Alice Springs, I talk to people every day when I am there - whether it is walking down the street, going to one of the clubs, or shopping in Woolies ...
Mr Giles: Rung any of the businesses yet?
Mr HAMPTON: I have.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: With the Deputy Chief Minister, I met with representatives of businesses in Alice Springs. I live in the community and I talk to people on a daily basis, whether they are from the business sector, the Aboriginal sector, or residents around the town. I believe this issue has to be tackled in a whole-of-community way. That is why I have called for a meeting with the Aboriginal community ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr HAMPTON: ... because, to date, this important part of our community has been left out of the debate ...
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: As I said, to date, this sector of our community – the Aboriginal community – has been left out of the debate. That is why I have called a meeting for Central Australian Aboriginal leaders this Friday in Alice Springs. The business and Aboriginal communities are very important to the cultural, social and economic future of our town; you cannot have one without the other. To date, they have been left out of the debate. What I am aiming to do is pull the business community together with the Aboriginal community to sit around the table and talk about this and find solutions together.
The Northern Territory government is committed to turning this around, as I am - absolutely committed to turning this situation around ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016