Mr MILLS - 2011-03-29
When teachers protested for a pay rise in 2009, your then minister for Education failed to address the assembled crowd. When the social workers, health workers, child protection workers and general community protested against your government’s failed child protection system in 2010, your then Minister for Child Protection failed to address the crowd. Today, in 2011, when a crowd representing hard-working and decent people of Alice Springs protest your actions on lawlessness, crime and violent assaults, you do not have the guts to address the assembled crowd. Isn’t it a fact that you only address crowds of people who agree with you, not crowds who want to challenge you? Is this the weak leadership Territorians deserve?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I offered an opportunity, as is always the case when people demonstrate at parliament, to meet with me, to meet with ministers, to talk in a sensible way about the issues. I have met with Action for Alice on two occasions. I have called the leader of this campaign on two occasions to talk about these issues and he did not return my phone calls.
I am interested in solutions, not yelling abuse at each other about the problems of Alice Springs. I was very disappointed when they did not take the opportunity to meet with me to discuss concerns. I have heard the concerns; I have seen the nine-point plan and we are acting. I have a responsibility, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, to protect the reputation of Alice Springs not to turn the problems of Alice Springs into a national media circus which, ultimately, will turn people away from visiting Alice Springs ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Put that down, member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … I have a responsibility to the hard-working small business people running tourism operations in Alice Springs who are appalled at the antics of this particular campaign …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was asked why he did not front the group this morning, not whether or not he was meeting with Action for Alice Springs, or any other group for that matter. He was asked directly whether he was going to front that group.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. The Chief Minister is answering the question. There were many imputations at the beginning of the question which he is allowed to respond to.
Mr HENDERSON: I have a responsibility to small business people, to tourism operators trying to attract tourists to Alice Springs, to other business people trying to attract workers to Alice Springs, to the community of Alice Springs trying to attract teachers, nurses, doctors, people who work in hospitals, not to perform a media circus and once again highlight the problems of Alice Springs to a national and international audience.
If people were serious about the issues, they would have taken the opportunity to meet with me. They declined the opportunity.
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I offered an opportunity, as is always the case when people demonstrate at parliament, to meet with me, to meet with ministers, to talk in a sensible way about the issues. I have met with Action for Alice on two occasions. I have called the leader of this campaign on two occasions to talk about these issues and he did not return my phone calls.
I am interested in solutions, not yelling abuse at each other about the problems of Alice Springs. I was very disappointed when they did not take the opportunity to meet with me to discuss concerns. I have heard the concerns; I have seen the nine-point plan and we are acting. I have a responsibility, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, to protect the reputation of Alice Springs not to turn the problems of Alice Springs into a national media circus which, ultimately, will turn people away from visiting Alice Springs ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Put that down, member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … I have a responsibility to the hard-working small business people running tourism operations in Alice Springs who are appalled at the antics of this particular campaign …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was asked why he did not front the group this morning, not whether or not he was meeting with Action for Alice Springs, or any other group for that matter. He was asked directly whether he was going to front that group.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. The Chief Minister is answering the question. There were many imputations at the beginning of the question which he is allowed to respond to.
Mr HENDERSON: I have a responsibility to small business people, to tourism operators trying to attract tourists to Alice Springs, to other business people trying to attract workers to Alice Springs, to the community of Alice Springs trying to attract teachers, nurses, doctors, people who work in hospitals, not to perform a media circus and once again highlight the problems of Alice Springs to a national and international audience.
If people were serious about the issues, they would have taken the opportunity to meet with me. They declined the opportunity.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016