Mr CONLAN - 2011-02-23
Nowhere is the manifest of Labor’s failure on crime - their softly, softly approach to crime - more evident than in Alice Springs. Soft sentences and not enough police on the beat have created a lawless zone throughout the town after dark. In Saturday’s Weekend Australian, there is a very serious claim that illegal grog shops are selling cheap wine in Alice Springs, which is fuelling violence, crime and antisocial behaviour across the town. If there are enough police on the beat in Alice Springs, why have these illegal grog shops been able to trade with such impunity?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an interesting question. Selling sly grog is illegal; it is a crime, it is an offence. If anyone has any evidence of - if it is happening with such impunity in Alice Springs, maybe the member for Greatorex should report to the police which house in which street is selling the grog, and it will be closed down.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: To come here, make allegations …
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question clearly related to a feature in Saturday’s Weekend Australian …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex, your question had a long preamble.
Mr HENDERSON: He asks a question based on an unsolicited report in The Australian, which makes allegations without any evidence to back it up as fact. The reality is, if anyone in this House - the Alice Springs members, or the journalist who wrote the article - has any indication of any house selling sly grog in Alice Springs, they have an responsibility to report it to police, and police will close it down, not just use it to pump up the law and order debate in Alice Springs.
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That incident has been reported to the top dog, and that is the Police Commissioner.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, resume your seat!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! You are on a warning, member for Macdonnell.
Mr HENDERSON: The tragedy of this is that the mob and rabble opposite find this funny. They are all laughing on the other side of the Chamber. If people are selling sly grog, report it to police, police will close it down. Alcohol abuse is destroying people’s lives. It is not a laughing matter, it is not a joke; it is not something to put in the paper without reporting it to the police first. It is about taking responsibility as a citizen seriously and reporting it to police.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an interesting question. Selling sly grog is illegal; it is a crime, it is an offence. If anyone has any evidence of - if it is happening with such impunity in Alice Springs, maybe the member for Greatorex should report to the police which house in which street is selling the grog, and it will be closed down.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: To come here, make allegations …
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question clearly related to a feature in Saturday’s Weekend Australian …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex, your question had a long preamble.
Mr HENDERSON: He asks a question based on an unsolicited report in The Australian, which makes allegations without any evidence to back it up as fact. The reality is, if anyone in this House - the Alice Springs members, or the journalist who wrote the article - has any indication of any house selling sly grog in Alice Springs, they have an responsibility to report it to police, and police will close it down, not just use it to pump up the law and order debate in Alice Springs.
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That incident has been reported to the top dog, and that is the Police Commissioner.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, resume your seat!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! You are on a warning, member for Macdonnell.
Mr HENDERSON: The tragedy of this is that the mob and rabble opposite find this funny. They are all laughing on the other side of the Chamber. If people are selling sly grog, report it to police, police will close it down. Alcohol abuse is destroying people’s lives. It is not a laughing matter, it is not a joke; it is not something to put in the paper without reporting it to the police first. It is about taking responsibility as a citizen seriously and reporting it to police.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016