Ms CARNEY - 2007-04-17
In a letter to parliament dated 29 January 2007, only a few months ago, in relation to crime and antisocial behaviour in Todd Mall - the same letter in which you rejected any support for CCTV cameras - you said:
This month alone has seen an unprecedented number of antisocial behaviour incidents and violence in the Todd Mall - everything from a dentist getting a bottle in the face to a young man belted within an inch of his life, a young kid riding home beaten up, cars vandalised, and windows in restaurants in the mall being broken. How could you be so ignorant of what occurs in Todd Mall after dark then and now?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the events that occurred a fortnight ago in the mall in Alice Springs were serious and very vicious assaults. Also, the incidents that occurred where people were stabbed and one person lost their life were very serious, indeed. I commend the Northern Territory Police Force, who have apprehended most of the people who have been involved in those incidents. In fact, I believe there is only one outstanding arrest to be made and police are confident that they have identified the person in relation to that. Therefore, the first thing to do is to commend our Northern Territory Police Force for the fantastic work that they have done.
However, there is no doubt that these incidents that occurred in the mall a couple of weeks ago were a focus for people of what underlying problems have been occurring in Alice Springs for some time. I acknowledge that.
Dr Lim: Acknowledge it now.
Dr BURNS: I am acknowledging it now. What this government has done, member for Greatorex, is to pour more resources into police since the O’Sullivan Report in 2003 identified the need for 200 extra police across the Territory. The O’Sullivan Report also found that the Alice Springs Police Station had been under strength by approximately 50% for some time. The staffing level for Alice Springs Police Station in general duties police, uniformed officers, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and police auxiliaries is approximately 130. Over that time, through the O’Sullivan Report and government investing $75m to build our police force by 200, we built that establishment up to what it should be - approximately 133. Police have shown …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr BURNS: Please let me finish, member for Greatorex.
Police have shown that they are flexible to react to the situation within the Todd Mall. Certainly the City Safe project was evidence of that. An undertaking was given to the group which was part of the protest that met with the Chief Minister and I today that City Safe would continue. There was also an undertaking that further efforts would be made within the establishment of the police station at Alice Springs to free up even more general duties police to address issues of antisocial behaviour and itinerancy.
Madam Speaker, I place on the record in this House: every Territorian has a right to feel safe at home, in the streets, and going about their business. That is where I am coming from. I gave an assurance to the people who met with us today that that is my aim. I understand the anger that was out there today. It is understandable. However, as government, we are moving to address that, and I have every confidence that our fine police force is doing likewise.
- Such incidents occur in Todd Mall from time to time, they are spasmodic in nature.
This month alone has seen an unprecedented number of antisocial behaviour incidents and violence in the Todd Mall - everything from a dentist getting a bottle in the face to a young man belted within an inch of his life, a young kid riding home beaten up, cars vandalised, and windows in restaurants in the mall being broken. How could you be so ignorant of what occurs in Todd Mall after dark then and now?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the events that occurred a fortnight ago in the mall in Alice Springs were serious and very vicious assaults. Also, the incidents that occurred where people were stabbed and one person lost their life were very serious, indeed. I commend the Northern Territory Police Force, who have apprehended most of the people who have been involved in those incidents. In fact, I believe there is only one outstanding arrest to be made and police are confident that they have identified the person in relation to that. Therefore, the first thing to do is to commend our Northern Territory Police Force for the fantastic work that they have done.
However, there is no doubt that these incidents that occurred in the mall a couple of weeks ago were a focus for people of what underlying problems have been occurring in Alice Springs for some time. I acknowledge that.
Dr Lim: Acknowledge it now.
Dr BURNS: I am acknowledging it now. What this government has done, member for Greatorex, is to pour more resources into police since the O’Sullivan Report in 2003 identified the need for 200 extra police across the Territory. The O’Sullivan Report also found that the Alice Springs Police Station had been under strength by approximately 50% for some time. The staffing level for Alice Springs Police Station in general duties police, uniformed officers, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and police auxiliaries is approximately 130. Over that time, through the O’Sullivan Report and government investing $75m to build our police force by 200, we built that establishment up to what it should be - approximately 133. Police have shown …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr BURNS: Please let me finish, member for Greatorex.
Police have shown that they are flexible to react to the situation within the Todd Mall. Certainly the City Safe project was evidence of that. An undertaking was given to the group which was part of the protest that met with the Chief Minister and I today that City Safe would continue. There was also an undertaking that further efforts would be made within the establishment of the police station at Alice Springs to free up even more general duties police to address issues of antisocial behaviour and itinerancy.
Madam Speaker, I place on the record in this House: every Territorian has a right to feel safe at home, in the streets, and going about their business. That is where I am coming from. I gave an assurance to the people who met with us today that that is my aim. I understand the anger that was out there today. It is understandable. However, as government, we are moving to address that, and I have every confidence that our fine police force is doing likewise.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016