Mr MILLS - 2007-10-10
It has been reported that Bob Collins had scores of photos of children being sexually abused on his computer. Your own Little Children are Sacred report says there is a very clear link between those who are abused and those having a greater propensity to therefore become abusers. This is not about the rights of the dead; it is about the rights of the living. Is it therefore not vital that we leave no stone unturned to protect our children?
Madam SPEAKER: Pause, Chief Minister. Member for Blain, you are seeking a number of things including an expression of opinion. It is also a very repetitive question. I will allow the Chief Minister to answer it if she wishes, however I will not be allowing any further questions along this line. Unless they are significantly different, you are asking very repetitive questions, which is, of course, contrary to standing orders.
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, may I say …
Madam SPEAKER: I call the Chief Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will say again the basics of what we are dealing with. There has been a lengthy and exhaustive police investigation into the allegations made against Bob Collins. My advice is that there was a lot of work done. The alleged victims were identified. If there were any further alleged victims, the course of action I have said is available is one I would encourage them to take.
Mr Mills: You are taking a hands-off approach.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is important that the Deputy Opposition Leader listens to the answer. You have asked for an answer and I am giving it to you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I am saying that any alleged victim, whether they were identified in the police investigation or not, can come forward and apply to receive financial assistance, counselling and support. That is done through the Witness Assistance Service. That is the process we have set up. That is available in this situation, and I encourage either those who were identified through the police investigation or those outside it to come forward and seek those counselling services.
We are expanding our counselling services with the very substantial funds we have put towards Closing the Gap and, again, tackling that issue of child sexual abuse in the Territory. The Attorney-General has talked with his CEO to ensure that counsellors working in that Witness Assistance Service area are fully briefed and aware of the particular issues and the concerns of people who might come forward.
Assistance and support is available. I can give the number. It is a 1800 number: 1800 460 363. We are saying to those alleged victims and to victims who have not been identified: come forward and seek that assistance.
The criminal legal process has finished. The court has ended that process, quite properly, because there is no long an accused. The Director of Public Prosecutions supports that, the Solicitor-General supports that. This is the mechanism that is available, and I encourage those alleged victims to take it up.
Mr Mills: The first I have heard.
Ms MARTIN: The Deputy Opposition Leader is saying, ‘the first I have heard it’. What do you think I’ve talked about …
Mr Mills: No, the first they’ve heard.
Ms MARTIN: … for the last 35 minutes as you have asked questions? This is what I have been talking about.
Mr Mills: This is the first time you have come close to answering it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: It is. To the first question, I answered in the same way.
Madam Speaker, I am just expressing my exasperation at the Deputy Opposition Leader, but this is a very serious issue and one we are dealing with very appropriately. I do hope that it is also the intention of the opposition because this is a serious issue we need to deal with properly. However, the fact is that criminal proceedings are now at an end. Establishing guilt or innocence beyond reasonable doubt is at an end. What our focus is on now is dealing with the alleged victims and how we can support them through the processes of government.
Madam SPEAKER: Pause, Chief Minister. Member for Blain, you are seeking a number of things including an expression of opinion. It is also a very repetitive question. I will allow the Chief Minister to answer it if she wishes, however I will not be allowing any further questions along this line. Unless they are significantly different, you are asking very repetitive questions, which is, of course, contrary to standing orders.
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, may I say …
Madam SPEAKER: I call the Chief Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will say again the basics of what we are dealing with. There has been a lengthy and exhaustive police investigation into the allegations made against Bob Collins. My advice is that there was a lot of work done. The alleged victims were identified. If there were any further alleged victims, the course of action I have said is available is one I would encourage them to take.
Mr Mills: You are taking a hands-off approach.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is important that the Deputy Opposition Leader listens to the answer. You have asked for an answer and I am giving it to you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I am saying that any alleged victim, whether they were identified in the police investigation or not, can come forward and apply to receive financial assistance, counselling and support. That is done through the Witness Assistance Service. That is the process we have set up. That is available in this situation, and I encourage either those who were identified through the police investigation or those outside it to come forward and seek those counselling services.
We are expanding our counselling services with the very substantial funds we have put towards Closing the Gap and, again, tackling that issue of child sexual abuse in the Territory. The Attorney-General has talked with his CEO to ensure that counsellors working in that Witness Assistance Service area are fully briefed and aware of the particular issues and the concerns of people who might come forward.
Assistance and support is available. I can give the number. It is a 1800 number: 1800 460 363. We are saying to those alleged victims and to victims who have not been identified: come forward and seek that assistance.
The criminal legal process has finished. The court has ended that process, quite properly, because there is no long an accused. The Director of Public Prosecutions supports that, the Solicitor-General supports that. This is the mechanism that is available, and I encourage those alleged victims to take it up.
Mr Mills: The first I have heard.
Ms MARTIN: The Deputy Opposition Leader is saying, ‘the first I have heard it’. What do you think I’ve talked about …
Mr Mills: No, the first they’ve heard.
Ms MARTIN: … for the last 35 minutes as you have asked questions? This is what I have been talking about.
Mr Mills: This is the first time you have come close to answering it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: It is. To the first question, I answered in the same way.
Madam Speaker, I am just expressing my exasperation at the Deputy Opposition Leader, but this is a very serious issue and one we are dealing with very appropriately. I do hope that it is also the intention of the opposition because this is a serious issue we need to deal with properly. However, the fact is that criminal proceedings are now at an end. Establishing guilt or innocence beyond reasonable doubt is at an end. What our focus is on now is dealing with the alleged victims and how we can support them through the processes of government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016