Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2011-03-29
Can you please inform the House how our government is working with the Alice Springs community to develop local solutions to local issues?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very good question. This government has said the types of issues we are facing in Alice Springs are unacceptable. As a local member and the only government minister living in Alice Springs, I have received many calls and e-mails from people about these issues. People have had cars stolen and suffered from break and enters. I have called them directly and listened to what they have to say because I sympathise with them.
We have responded strongly with extra lighting, extra police presence on our streets, the announcement by police of the presence of a dog permanently based in Alice Springs, as well as the extra funding for youth services. These actions are having results in Alice Springs as we can see today …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: There have also been numerous meetings – I know the member for Greatorex does not like to listen to people - which I have attended, and the mayor has hosted, with 300 residents of Alice Springs present. A clear message from those meetings is people are tired of the divisiveness; tired of the same old rhetoric and negative approaches to some of these issues. One of the things people have said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: As politicians we can play politics here, but we need to listen to what people on the streets are saying …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: People in the streets want action and a plan to go forward. We need to respect that. There is a community process in place where workshops have been held and will continue to be held towards a community action plan. The opposition does not respect what the people of Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members!
Mr HAMPTON: They do not respect the community approach that is taking place before us. I urge the opposition to respect what people in Alice Springs are doing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, we know …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, the opposition, particularly those visiting Alice Springs, need to respect the community-driven process we are going through now to find local solutions to local problems by local people. We should not be in here using it as politics because there is a community process in place and I urge members of the opposition to respect that process.
Times like this challenge communities. I am proud to be a local in Alice Springs, because challenging times need strong responses. I am proud of the people of Alice Springs for the response they have made to the issue we are facing. As Minister for Central Australia, I will continue to lobby my colleagues for more support, and am proud of my side of the House, the government, for its response. There is more to be done and we will do more to meet the challenges ahead.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very good question. This government has said the types of issues we are facing in Alice Springs are unacceptable. As a local member and the only government minister living in Alice Springs, I have received many calls and e-mails from people about these issues. People have had cars stolen and suffered from break and enters. I have called them directly and listened to what they have to say because I sympathise with them.
We have responded strongly with extra lighting, extra police presence on our streets, the announcement by police of the presence of a dog permanently based in Alice Springs, as well as the extra funding for youth services. These actions are having results in Alice Springs as we can see today …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: There have also been numerous meetings – I know the member for Greatorex does not like to listen to people - which I have attended, and the mayor has hosted, with 300 residents of Alice Springs present. A clear message from those meetings is people are tired of the divisiveness; tired of the same old rhetoric and negative approaches to some of these issues. One of the things people have said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: As politicians we can play politics here, but we need to listen to what people on the streets are saying …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: People in the streets want action and a plan to go forward. We need to respect that. There is a community process in place where workshops have been held and will continue to be held towards a community action plan. The opposition does not respect what the people of Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members!
Mr HAMPTON: They do not respect the community approach that is taking place before us. I urge the opposition to respect what people in Alice Springs are doing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, we know …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, the opposition, particularly those visiting Alice Springs, need to respect the community-driven process we are going through now to find local solutions to local problems by local people. We should not be in here using it as politics because there is a community process in place and I urge members of the opposition to respect that process.
Times like this challenge communities. I am proud to be a local in Alice Springs, because challenging times need strong responses. I am proud of the people of Alice Springs for the response they have made to the issue we are facing. As Minister for Central Australia, I will continue to lobby my colleagues for more support, and am proud of my side of the House, the government, for its response. There is more to be done and we will do more to meet the challenges ahead.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016