Mr HAMPTON - 2007-05-01
The Martin government has been building a safer community since Labor came to office and inherited an underfunded and under-resourced police force. Can the minister advise the House how Budget 2007-08 fulfils this goal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. Since this government came to office in 2001, we have increased funding to Police, Fire and Emergency Services by some 65%. Budget 2007-08 provides $226m for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, which is all about building a safer community.
This amount will support a police force, as the Treasurer said in his speech, of 1140 personnel by the end of June next year. Recently, it was my pleasure to announce construction of a new police station at Casuarina costing $4.8m, which is very much needed infrastructure. I am sure that will be a great bulwark, if you like, for crime prevention within our northern suburbs. There has also been $9.6m allocated in the budget for new and replacement equipment for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. On the issue of road safety, within the budget there is also provision for highway patrols at a cost of $736 000 this financial year, rising to $1.3m in 2007-08.
One initiative that I commend to this House is ensuring that crime does not pay through greater resourcing to the forfeiture of property through the unit that investigates that. I will have more to say about that during these sittings. They have been very successful to date. It is going to be beefed up. Those who profit from the proceeds of crime should take note of this, because I believe those days are numbered. We have allotted an extra $1.3m to enforce that legislation.
In partnership with the Commonwealth, there is $4m over three years to fund the operation of the minimum national person profile. This is all about having a streamlined system to identify criminals, and to exchange information with other jurisdictions. This will be a great step forward for our police force and facilitate their operations. We have also allocated $2.4m for the newly refocused and consolidated Crime Prevention Community Safety strategy.
There are many other strategies, because we, as a government, also recognise that policing is one aspect of making it a safer community, but there are other aspects that impact on the Territory, such as the alcohol policy and the treatment of those with drug and alcohol issues. I was very pleased to note in the budget there is $4m to upgrade Banyan House, which is very important. There is also ongoing funding for Neighbourhood Watch and funding to light our parks and laneways.
Madam Speaker, we are very focused on reducing crime in our community, and this budget, with a significant increase of $226m, really underscores this government’s commitment to building a safer community in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. Since this government came to office in 2001, we have increased funding to Police, Fire and Emergency Services by some 65%. Budget 2007-08 provides $226m for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, which is all about building a safer community.
This amount will support a police force, as the Treasurer said in his speech, of 1140 personnel by the end of June next year. Recently, it was my pleasure to announce construction of a new police station at Casuarina costing $4.8m, which is very much needed infrastructure. I am sure that will be a great bulwark, if you like, for crime prevention within our northern suburbs. There has also been $9.6m allocated in the budget for new and replacement equipment for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. On the issue of road safety, within the budget there is also provision for highway patrols at a cost of $736 000 this financial year, rising to $1.3m in 2007-08.
One initiative that I commend to this House is ensuring that crime does not pay through greater resourcing to the forfeiture of property through the unit that investigates that. I will have more to say about that during these sittings. They have been very successful to date. It is going to be beefed up. Those who profit from the proceeds of crime should take note of this, because I believe those days are numbered. We have allotted an extra $1.3m to enforce that legislation.
In partnership with the Commonwealth, there is $4m over three years to fund the operation of the minimum national person profile. This is all about having a streamlined system to identify criminals, and to exchange information with other jurisdictions. This will be a great step forward for our police force and facilitate their operations. We have also allocated $2.4m for the newly refocused and consolidated Crime Prevention Community Safety strategy.
There are many other strategies, because we, as a government, also recognise that policing is one aspect of making it a safer community, but there are other aspects that impact on the Territory, such as the alcohol policy and the treatment of those with drug and alcohol issues. I was very pleased to note in the budget there is $4m to upgrade Banyan House, which is very important. There is also ongoing funding for Neighbourhood Watch and funding to light our parks and laneways.
Madam Speaker, we are very focused on reducing crime in our community, and this budget, with a significant increase of $226m, really underscores this government’s commitment to building a safer community in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016