Ms CARNEY - 2007-04-18
In relation to telephone numbers for police, minister, last night I rang Sensis, the well-known phone directory service provider. I rang up and asked for the number of the Alice Springs Police Station, and they texted it to me on my mobile phone - that number was 8951 8888. That is also the number that appears in the Northern Territory phone book, but we did not stop there. I note your suggestion to the people of Alice Springs that they should ring 131 444. A member of my staff then rang the number you say will get the police; that is, 131 444. That was done at 9.52 am. That call was not answered. The people of Alice Springs have not been able to get through …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please pause. I remind guests in the galleries that there must be silence or we will have to ask you to leave. Leader of the Opposition, please continue.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, why do you direct me and the people of Alice Springs to numbers that will not be answered? Are you prepared to give us your number so that they can ring you in the middle of the night?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I stand squarely behind the 131 444 number …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I can. As I said, police endeavour to answer those numbers - 80% within 20 seconds. I am not sure what sort of cute trick the member of your staff has tried on here, but we are used to …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister well knows that he should direct his comments through the Chair; that is the first point. The second point is that he was pointing at my staff. There is a convention in this parliament and others that members of staff are kept out of it. This rude liar should know different.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you will withdraw your last comments. Leader of the Opposition, you will withdraw.
Ms CARNEY: Yes, Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘liar’.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please pause. I remind guests in the galleries that there must be silence or we will have to ask you to leave. Leader of the Opposition, please continue.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, why do you direct me and the people of Alice Springs to numbers that will not be answered? Are you prepared to give us your number so that they can ring you in the middle of the night?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I stand squarely behind the 131 444 number …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I can. As I said, police endeavour to answer those numbers - 80% within 20 seconds. I am not sure what sort of cute trick the member of your staff has tried on here, but we are used to …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister well knows that he should direct his comments through the Chair; that is the first point. The second point is that he was pointing at my staff. There is a convention in this parliament and others that members of staff are kept out of it. This rude liar should know different.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you will withdraw your last comments. Leader of the Opposition, you will withdraw.
Ms CARNEY: Yes, Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘liar’.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016