Mr MILLS - 2012-02-15
The Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap report 2012 states that the Gillard government provided $1.5m to implement the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory. That is one-and-a-half million reasons the Banned Drinker Register was forced on you by the Gillard government. Why don’t you just stand up for Territorians rather than roll over to your political masters in Canberra - who is running the show?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I can absolutely say, without clarification, that the alcohol reforms are our reforms. This government’s reforms, this Cabinet’s reforms, this Caucus’ reforms. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition would not understand this ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: For every major reform in the Northern Territory, you would be a fool as a minister or the Chief Minister not to seek financial support from the Commonwealth government. For all major policy areas of government, of course, it is a key responsibility of every single minister to be there in Canberra at ministerial councils to look at every opportunity for sourcing funding for the Northern Territory.
The federal government committed money to assist with a new IT system. That is what they committed funding for: to assist with a new IT system. What we do know is that the CLP are soft on crime. They would see ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... increased alcohol consumption, four hours more trading time for alcohol in Alice Springs, and they would tie one arm behind the back of every police officer in the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: ... by dismantling the Banned Drinker Register, which senior police officers have said, time and time again, is the most effective tool they have ever had to reduce alcohol-related violence in the Territory. We have seen early figures showing alcohol-related violence in Darwin and Palmerston is down 20%.
This policy initiative of this government is being looked at very closely by all governments around Australia. At the next Police Ministerial Council later this year, Police ministers from around Australia have asked me to do a presentation on the scheme and the impact it has had on reducing alcohol-related crime and violence across the Northern Territory.
We know this is a scheme that the opposition would tear down. They would see those 2100 people who are currently banned from accessing alcohol back on the grog again, and not only back on the grog again ...
Mr Elferink: And replace it with something works.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Sanderson! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... back on the grog again for an extra four hours every day. Four hours more misery for the people of Alice Springs is the policy of the Leader of the Opposition. I am very proud that our minister managed to get $1.5m from the Commonwealth for new IT systems. That is an additional $1.5m for us to put into health and education that we would otherwise have had to find. It is a core responsibility of every minister to seek financial support from the Commonwealth. This policy is reducing crime. The CLP would scrap it and pour more grog onto the residents of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Conlan: What a bozo. Come on!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I keep hearing you interjecting in a very unparliamentary fashion.
Mr CONLAN: I am sorry my voice penetrates the Chamber so effectively, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps you are not supposed to be talking, member for Greatorex.
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I can absolutely say, without clarification, that the alcohol reforms are our reforms. This government’s reforms, this Cabinet’s reforms, this Caucus’ reforms. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition would not understand this ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: For every major reform in the Northern Territory, you would be a fool as a minister or the Chief Minister not to seek financial support from the Commonwealth government. For all major policy areas of government, of course, it is a key responsibility of every single minister to be there in Canberra at ministerial councils to look at every opportunity for sourcing funding for the Northern Territory.
The federal government committed money to assist with a new IT system. That is what they committed funding for: to assist with a new IT system. What we do know is that the CLP are soft on crime. They would see ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... increased alcohol consumption, four hours more trading time for alcohol in Alice Springs, and they would tie one arm behind the back of every police officer in the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: ... by dismantling the Banned Drinker Register, which senior police officers have said, time and time again, is the most effective tool they have ever had to reduce alcohol-related violence in the Territory. We have seen early figures showing alcohol-related violence in Darwin and Palmerston is down 20%.
This policy initiative of this government is being looked at very closely by all governments around Australia. At the next Police Ministerial Council later this year, Police ministers from around Australia have asked me to do a presentation on the scheme and the impact it has had on reducing alcohol-related crime and violence across the Northern Territory.
We know this is a scheme that the opposition would tear down. They would see those 2100 people who are currently banned from accessing alcohol back on the grog again, and not only back on the grog again ...
Mr Elferink: And replace it with something works.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Sanderson! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... back on the grog again for an extra four hours every day. Four hours more misery for the people of Alice Springs is the policy of the Leader of the Opposition. I am very proud that our minister managed to get $1.5m from the Commonwealth for new IT systems. That is an additional $1.5m for us to put into health and education that we would otherwise have had to find. It is a core responsibility of every minister to seek financial support from the Commonwealth. This policy is reducing crime. The CLP would scrap it and pour more grog onto the residents of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Conlan: What a bozo. Come on!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I keep hearing you interjecting in a very unparliamentary fashion.
Mr CONLAN: I am sorry my voice penetrates the Chamber so effectively, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps you are not supposed to be talking, member for Greatorex.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016