Media Statement from the Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro
The CLP listened and moved to provide the Northern Territory Police the powers they had called for to deal with public drunkenness through our Bill that Labor voted down in October 2023.
We support Police being able to ask for identification and issue a Banned Drinkers Order.
Nonetheless, the Fyles Labor Government has once more overlooked the chance to take additional steps in this regard.
Northern Territory Police should be supported by legislation allowing infringement notices to be issued to those doing the wrong thing when drinking in public.
We will always support giving more powers to Northern Territory Police to do their job.
We support raising the age of retirement, which was passed by the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) at their Annual General Meeting.
However, under the Police Legislation Amendment (Powers, Appointments and Other Matters) Bill 2023, we do not support -
The CLP will tonight vote against these four clauses in support of the NTPA’s very reasonable request that the Government stop and consult with them.
We value the input of the NTPA on these issues which could adversely impact the moral and wellbeing of the Police, and have asked the new Police Minister to return to Parliament in February 2024, after he has sat down with the NTPA to properly discuss the concerns.
These amendments have profound effects on the frontline, and Labor gave the NTPA just six minutes notice.
The recently appointed Labor Minister for Police appears to be following in the footsteps of the previous failed Ministers, replicating their failure to include Police representation at the decision-making table.
