Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2010-05-04
Would you update the Assembly on key initiatives in Budget 2010-11 to further implement the Territory government’s A Safe Territory strategy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Budget 2010-11 delivers a record $310m for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. Our commitment to a safer Territory across the Northern Territory has seen an increase in the Police, Fire and Emergency Services budget by more than 126% from 2001, an extra 399 police officers across the Territory since 2002. That is a significant investment in the safety and security of all Territorians wherever they live.
Budget highlights include $27m for policing in 18 remote communities, a key part of A Working Future. There are ongoing discussions with the Commonwealth government regarding those remote communities. There is now a greater police presence in more remote communities than ever before.
There is an $18.8m capital spend to build police stations and officer accommodation at Alparra and Imanpa, supporting A Working Future. There is $3.7m to upgrade the Tennant Creek Police Station, and those officers will welcome that. There is $6m to complete and maintain Police Beats in Alice Springs, Casuarina, Nightcliff, Palmerston, Parap and Karama. The Leader of the Opposition said he would close these down. They have been a very significant deterrent to crime and antisocial behaviour.
There is $900 000 in the budget for first response patrols, and $1.44m for CCTV monitoring in the greater Darwin area. The application of CCTV, another commitment by this government, and a significant roll-out of CCTV in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs has certainly seen our major public areas safer precincts to be in. All these initiatives deter crime and antisocial behaviour.
This is unlike the CLP, which had a track record of walking away from our police force – a track record of, when police officers retired, they were not replaced. When they left the force, they were not replaced. For four long years under the CLP administration, not one police officer was recruited in the Northern Territory.
In the debate about this budget and the deficit position, I challenge the Leader of the Opposition: how many police officers would he sack to bring the budget back into surplus? They have form; they have absolute form.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Budget 2010-11 delivers a record $310m for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. Our commitment to a safer Territory across the Northern Territory has seen an increase in the Police, Fire and Emergency Services budget by more than 126% from 2001, an extra 399 police officers across the Territory since 2002. That is a significant investment in the safety and security of all Territorians wherever they live.
Budget highlights include $27m for policing in 18 remote communities, a key part of A Working Future. There are ongoing discussions with the Commonwealth government regarding those remote communities. There is now a greater police presence in more remote communities than ever before.
There is an $18.8m capital spend to build police stations and officer accommodation at Alparra and Imanpa, supporting A Working Future. There is $3.7m to upgrade the Tennant Creek Police Station, and those officers will welcome that. There is $6m to complete and maintain Police Beats in Alice Springs, Casuarina, Nightcliff, Palmerston, Parap and Karama. The Leader of the Opposition said he would close these down. They have been a very significant deterrent to crime and antisocial behaviour.
There is $900 000 in the budget for first response patrols, and $1.44m for CCTV monitoring in the greater Darwin area. The application of CCTV, another commitment by this government, and a significant roll-out of CCTV in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs has certainly seen our major public areas safer precincts to be in. All these initiatives deter crime and antisocial behaviour.
This is unlike the CLP, which had a track record of walking away from our police force – a track record of, when police officers retired, they were not replaced. When they left the force, they were not replaced. For four long years under the CLP administration, not one police officer was recruited in the Northern Territory.
In the debate about this budget and the deficit position, I challenge the Leader of the Opposition: how many police officers would he sack to bring the budget back into surplus? They have form; they have absolute form.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016