Ms CARNEY - 2007-04-18
You have been aware, since at least November last year, of problems experienced by people of Alice Springs - I remind you of Harry Osborne, the bloke who rang six or seven times and could not get through - trying to get through to the Alice Springs police. Many people have experienced problems since then. At 4.50 pm yesterday, and again at 9.50 am today, a member of my staff rang the Alice Springs Police Station number on 8951 8888, a number well known to the people of Alice Springs. Both of our calls went unanswered - the phone rang out.
You have had around six months to fix the communications problems at the Alice Springs Police Station and they are still not working. Why should Alice Springs residents have any confidence at all in your capacity as Police minister when you cannot even guarantee that when they ring up the police station the phone might just ring out?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I really do thank the Leader of the Opposition, because this is a very important question. I take the opportunity to answer it, because it goes to the heart of the way in which Alice Springs community should be contacting police. Most people in this room would be aware, if there is an emergency, people should ring 000. That number goes through Telstra and is directed to the appropriate police station. Police aim to answer 90% of those 000 calls within 10 seconds. Last year, they achieved an 86% success rate in that. As well as that, there is a 131 444 number, which directs people - through Telstra once again, similarly to the 000 number - in the case of Alice Springs, to the Alice Springs Police Station where they want to go, which is the operational command post. Police aim to answer 80% of those calls within 20 seconds. Last year, they achieved 79%.
The general number for Alice Springs Police which, I believe, is 8951 888, is the general office number for the Alice Springs Police Station. I appreciate that Alice Springs …
Dr Lim: It is not 8951888, it is 8951 8888.
Dr BURNS: Can you let me answer it?
Dr LIM: The number is 8951 8888.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex.
Dr BURNS: 8951 8888. All right, member for Greatorex, you have made your big point for the night.
I completely understand why Alice Springs people would want to ring the number of the Alice Springs Police Station. However, that number is the general number that is used by Alice Springs Police. It fields all sorts of calls - people ringing up about firearms licences, permits, wanting to speak to Officer X or Officer Y, wanting to even know where the Alice Springs Police Station is, what business hours they might have, or whatever.
What I am saying to the people of Alice Springs here tonight is the number that you should be ringing is 131 444. That will get you right into the heart of the Alice Springs Police Station without having to go through that general number. There is a target there, as I said, of 20 seconds. It is important for the opposition to be promoting that 131 444 number to the public of Alice Springs so that they can have that sort of access to the very part of Alice Springs Police Station where they want to go. The calls will be directed there by Telstra - and this is very important. I encourage the people of Alice Springs to ring that number.
Certainly, the issue that has been raised tonight has been raised in the days previous. What I have undertaken to do is further advertise that 131 444 number. I call on the opposition also to promote that number in their electorate magazines and material, because it is a very important number and one that can be guaranteed to be answered by police.
You have had around six months to fix the communications problems at the Alice Springs Police Station and they are still not working. Why should Alice Springs residents have any confidence at all in your capacity as Police minister when you cannot even guarantee that when they ring up the police station the phone might just ring out?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I really do thank the Leader of the Opposition, because this is a very important question. I take the opportunity to answer it, because it goes to the heart of the way in which Alice Springs community should be contacting police. Most people in this room would be aware, if there is an emergency, people should ring 000. That number goes through Telstra and is directed to the appropriate police station. Police aim to answer 90% of those 000 calls within 10 seconds. Last year, they achieved an 86% success rate in that. As well as that, there is a 131 444 number, which directs people - through Telstra once again, similarly to the 000 number - in the case of Alice Springs, to the Alice Springs Police Station where they want to go, which is the operational command post. Police aim to answer 80% of those calls within 20 seconds. Last year, they achieved 79%.
The general number for Alice Springs Police which, I believe, is 8951 888, is the general office number for the Alice Springs Police Station. I appreciate that Alice Springs …
Dr Lim: It is not 8951888, it is 8951 8888.
Dr BURNS: Can you let me answer it?
Dr LIM: The number is 8951 8888.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex.
Dr BURNS: 8951 8888. All right, member for Greatorex, you have made your big point for the night.
I completely understand why Alice Springs people would want to ring the number of the Alice Springs Police Station. However, that number is the general number that is used by Alice Springs Police. It fields all sorts of calls - people ringing up about firearms licences, permits, wanting to speak to Officer X or Officer Y, wanting to even know where the Alice Springs Police Station is, what business hours they might have, or whatever.
What I am saying to the people of Alice Springs here tonight is the number that you should be ringing is 131 444. That will get you right into the heart of the Alice Springs Police Station without having to go through that general number. There is a target there, as I said, of 20 seconds. It is important for the opposition to be promoting that 131 444 number to the public of Alice Springs so that they can have that sort of access to the very part of Alice Springs Police Station where they want to go. The calls will be directed there by Telstra - and this is very important. I encourage the people of Alice Springs to ring that number.
Certainly, the issue that has been raised tonight has been raised in the days previous. What I have undertaken to do is further advertise that 131 444 number. I call on the opposition also to promote that number in their electorate magazines and material, because it is a very important number and one that can be guaranteed to be answered by police.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016