Mrs LAMBLEY - 2011-02-24
You have told this House that no reports of child prostitution on the streets of Alice Springs have been received by Child Protection Services, yet Alice Springs police confirmed they have received reports of child prostitution in Alice. Are the lines of communication so bad between the police and Child Protection Services that critical information is not being shared? Or are you feigning ignorance of child prostitution in Alice Springs, just as the former Labor Chief Minister, Clare Martin did when confronted with details regarding child prostitution at Mutitjulu? When are you going to end the culture of cover-up?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very important question. She raised this allegation yesterday and on Tuesday in this parliament. I checked with my department to see if they had received any notification from any person in this House or in Alice Springs about child prostitution. The department of Children’s Services has not received any formal notification from any person about prostitution. The Police portfolio is the minister for Police’s responsibility and I now refer the question to the minister for Police.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I urge members opposite to be silent, because this is very serious.
Mr Mills: Yes, it is.
Mr HENDERSON: I urge you to listen.
I call on the members for Araluen and Macdonnell, after this Question Time, to immediately report to police any allegations they have of child prostitution. To make an allegation and not report it to police is putting children at risk and is an offence.
I urge the member for Macdonnell to arrange to meet with police immediately. I am advised that the member for Macdonnell did raise an allegation with police. Police have been trying to arrange a meeting with her to go through these allegations. They have been unable to connect at a point in time to do that. I urge her to see the police as soon as possible and give them the information she has.
Any information the member for Araluen may have should be made to …
Mr Conlan: You now have the information so why don’t you go?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Greatorex should be taking this issue seriously; it is a very serious issue. Allegations have been made and, if children are at risk, people who make those allegations should make them to the police; give them all and every piece of information they have as to where those allegations have come from.
I am not making assertions in this parliament, because this is too important. The last thing we need is people peddling rumours, and I am not saying people are. What I am saying is that we have two members of parliament who are making allegations in this Chamber. I acknowledge that the member for Macdonnell raised those issues with police and police have been trying to arrange a time to meet with her. I urge her to meet with police, give them the allegations and let the police get on with their job. This is not a media circus.
FACS does not know about this because there is no identified victim in these allegations. There is nothing to refer because there is no specific victim or specific allegation made to police. That is what needs to happen. The allegations need to go to police. Let police do their job.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very important question. She raised this allegation yesterday and on Tuesday in this parliament. I checked with my department to see if they had received any notification from any person in this House or in Alice Springs about child prostitution. The department of Children’s Services has not received any formal notification from any person about prostitution. The Police portfolio is the minister for Police’s responsibility and I now refer the question to the minister for Police.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I urge members opposite to be silent, because this is very serious.
Mr Mills: Yes, it is.
Mr HENDERSON: I urge you to listen.
I call on the members for Araluen and Macdonnell, after this Question Time, to immediately report to police any allegations they have of child prostitution. To make an allegation and not report it to police is putting children at risk and is an offence.
I urge the member for Macdonnell to arrange to meet with police immediately. I am advised that the member for Macdonnell did raise an allegation with police. Police have been trying to arrange a meeting with her to go through these allegations. They have been unable to connect at a point in time to do that. I urge her to see the police as soon as possible and give them the information she has.
Any information the member for Araluen may have should be made to …
Mr Conlan: You now have the information so why don’t you go?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Greatorex should be taking this issue seriously; it is a very serious issue. Allegations have been made and, if children are at risk, people who make those allegations should make them to the police; give them all and every piece of information they have as to where those allegations have come from.
I am not making assertions in this parliament, because this is too important. The last thing we need is people peddling rumours, and I am not saying people are. What I am saying is that we have two members of parliament who are making allegations in this Chamber. I acknowledge that the member for Macdonnell raised those issues with police and police have been trying to arrange a time to meet with her. I urge her to meet with police, give them the allegations and let the police get on with their job. This is not a media circus.
FACS does not know about this because there is no identified victim in these allegations. There is nothing to refer because there is no specific victim or specific allegation made to police. That is what needs to happen. The allegations need to go to police. Let police do their job.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016