Questions Day 2 - Wednesday 27 November 1996
Parliamentary Record 29
Questions for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997
1996-11-27
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Questions
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Let me tell the Leader of the Opposition that she will not get her grubby little hands on any policc file. No Minister for Policc should ever be able to access a police file. A minister is entitled to briefings, the bare facts and to be told the outcome of an investigation and whether or not prosecutions are likely. The very notion that the Leader of the Opposition should be able to tuck under her arm a police file with all the records of interview and all the inquiries, particularly when this involves innocent people, is absolutely disgraceful. She does not live by the standards that she tries to set for others. Jailing of Labor Supporters Mr SETTER to CHIEF MINISTER In debate in this Chamber last Thursday, the opposition spokesman on legal affairs, the member for MaeDonnell, said inter alia that, as part of its political strategy, the CLP government can and does jail its political opponents far more often and for longer periods than others. As 5 days have passed sincc the members outburst, can the ChiefMinister inform the House as to the veracity of those comments, and any steps he has taken to ascertain if the member for MaeDonnell was reflecting Labor Party policy in last Thursdays remarks? ANSWER Mr Speaker, when people heard of this statement by the member for MaeDonnell, there was absolute outrage. He was talking about political prisoners here in the Territory - could he be serious? Does the opposition seriously believe that the Northern Territory government imprisons political adherents to that side of politics? Is that the view of members opposite? They are just sitting there. I would be sitting there with a stunned look on my face too. Can I say to the Leader of the Opposition that I understand her problem. Her problem is the member for MaeDonnell. All political parties at some time or another have someone in their ranks who is absolutely off the rails. It is time that she demonstrated some leadership and reefed him back into line. Mr Stirling: Answer the question. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Members interjecting. Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister is running down his familiar track of getting off the point and directing a question to me rather than addressing the question from the member for Jingili. Presumably he has a point to make, and perhaps he would like to make it. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have no power, as I have made the po in t... Mr Bailey interjecting. Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member for Wanguri reflects on the Chair once more this morning, he will be named. QUESTIONS - Wednesday 27 November 1996 1830