Ms CARNEY - 2007-04-19
Your Police minister told the people of Alice Springs last night to ring 131 444. As you know, and as your minister for Police has known for at least six months, there are problems with that number and the communications system. Are you concerned at all about people witnessing crime, or victims of it, who might be out and about on the streets of Alice Springs and who do not have a mobile phone? I think in this regard of Aboriginal women in this town, who might need to ring police, but who do not have a mobile phone and who do not happen to have 50 in their pocket without which the phone will not even ring. Are you concerned about that? If so, what are you going to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I understand the question from the Opposition Leader, it is asking whether government is going to provide a phone to every single Territorian? Is that the issue that we are dealing with here?
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: No, but I just …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The question was: if someone does not have a phone and wants to ring the police, that government should provide them with a phone?
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I say to anyone who is witnessing a crime or who is a victim of a crime, the number to ring is 000. It is important that someone in a leadership position like the Opposition Leader knows the right number to ring. That number is 000 ...
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is a most bizarre question from the Opposition Leader about providing every citizen with a phone. That is not exactly the government’s task ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: No, it is not, and the Opposition Leader …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is interesting, because the Opposition Leader asked the question. It is a very bizarre question. I am sure our students there would love government to provide them with a mobile phone or 50 for a phone call. However, the issue is what number should be rung, and the number is 000. If there is an emergency, you must all know that it is 000 to ring.
What we need to make sure of is that police numbers are at establishment in Alice Springs, that we have good strategies in place to be able to deal with incidents when they happen, whether that is antisocial behaviour or crimes being committed. The Police Commissioner has given an assurance that that will happen, and that City Safe will continue to keep the mall and other key areas of the city safe at night. There is a Social Order Task Force coming on board to really focus the attention of police on the concerns that have been raised by our community in Alice Springs on making a safe community. I say again: 000 is the number to ring if there is an emergency.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I understand the question from the Opposition Leader, it is asking whether government is going to provide a phone to every single Territorian? Is that the issue that we are dealing with here?
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: No, but I just …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The question was: if someone does not have a phone and wants to ring the police, that government should provide them with a phone?
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I say to anyone who is witnessing a crime or who is a victim of a crime, the number to ring is 000. It is important that someone in a leadership position like the Opposition Leader knows the right number to ring. That number is 000 ...
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is a most bizarre question from the Opposition Leader about providing every citizen with a phone. That is not exactly the government’s task ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: No, it is not, and the Opposition Leader …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is interesting, because the Opposition Leader asked the question. It is a very bizarre question. I am sure our students there would love government to provide them with a mobile phone or 50 for a phone call. However, the issue is what number should be rung, and the number is 000. If there is an emergency, you must all know that it is 000 to ring.
What we need to make sure of is that police numbers are at establishment in Alice Springs, that we have good strategies in place to be able to deal with incidents when they happen, whether that is antisocial behaviour or crimes being committed. The Police Commissioner has given an assurance that that will happen, and that City Safe will continue to keep the mall and other key areas of the city safe at night. There is a Social Order Task Force coming on board to really focus the attention of police on the concerns that have been raised by our community in Alice Springs on making a safe community. I say again: 000 is the number to ring if there is an emergency.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016