Questions Day 2 - Wednesday 19 March 2014
Parliamentary Record 11
Questions for 12th Assembly 2012 - 2016; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 12th Assembly 2012 - 2016
2014-03-20
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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QUESTIONS Wednesday 19 March 2014 620 Northern Territory Police have completed a six month trial of the system in Alice Springs and feedback on the trial has been extremely positive, helping more and more people. It has seen an increase in referrals by the Northern Territory Police; 175 officers made almost 2000 referrals. The referral service also reached people who had never connected with services before, which is why we are seeing such a change in assisting victims of domestic violence. Up to 70% of referrals were for victims who were previously unknown to support agencies. The trial has been praised by support agencies in Alice Springs. The womens shelter has been particularly supportive of the SupportLink trial. The trial has been so successful, it is going to be extended in Alice Springs and rolled out for the first time in all communities up to, and including, Katherine through to the end of March 2015. This extension will cost in the vicinity of $250 000 and is more evidence of our commitment to reducing the harms and prevalence of domestic violence in our community. It is envisaged this program could eventually form a key plank of the governments soon to be finalised domestic violence strategy, which the Attorney-General will be releasing in the near future. I congratulate the Northern Territory Police and other agencies which have worked together so far on this initiative. It is changing the lives of people who are victims of domestic violence. We are continuing to drive down the cause and effects and the prevalence of domestic violence. It is a scourge in our society and I think the SupportLink trial can go a little way towards making a difference in peoples lives across the Northern Territory. Bullying in the Workplace Policy Mr VOWLES to MINISTER FOR CENTRAL AUSTRALIA The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment has a whole-of-government policy on preventing and eliminating workplace bullying. This policy applies to all in the public service, including the hundreds of public servants in your agencies. The policy states bullying is not acceptable to anyone, anytime or anywhere. Do you agree workplace bullying is not acceptable in your agencies and for complaints to be dealt with promptly, without victimising the person who makes the report? What do you have to say to the member for Namatjira and the public? ANSWER Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with the policy which was alluded to with regards to workplace bullying. With regards to the second part of your question, I have said it before and I will say it again, I will not be making any comment relating to discussions which took place inside the party room. Police Success in Tennant Creek Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES Moving up the track a bit, could you please tell the Assembly about the success police have had in Tennant Creek in stamping out domestic violence? ANSWER Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know he has concerns like many of us, least of all the member for Barkly, about issues with domestic or family violence in the Barkly and Tennant Creek area. The Barkly, as we all know, has long been a hot spot for family violence. I am proud to say we are trying to tackle this head-on in Tennant Creek. It will take us a long time, least of all getting economic reforms into the region, which will have a long lasting and effective change in social norms. Since July 2013, approximately 70% of all violent crime in the region has involved a domestic relationship and 70% of those cases are linked to alcohol consumption. In response, police launched Strike Force Datsun at the start of February. The goal of the operation is to reduce personal and domestic violence related crime by 10% and I am pleased to report it has been successful in doing so. In the month of February, offences against the person were down 11%, compared to the same time in 2013. Domestic violence related assaults have been reduced by more than 14%, compared to last year. Over the month, there were 34 arrests for this kind of offending. Strike Force Datsun will continue to target recidivist domestic violence offenders, engage with victims and patrol hot spots throughout the end of June. I congratulate police in Barkly for the hard work on this important issue. When you link this up with what will occur with SupportLink and its roll-out through Tennant Creek, it will have a longer lasting effect on those victims of family violence. I am also pleased to hear about the work occurring locally with people who are on the local alcohol accord reference group, and the work on