CLP Propose NT Law And Order Changes

The Country Liberal Party Leader, Jodeen Carney, proposed significant changes to support Law and Order as part of her Budget in reply speech.

“Frontline police must be supported in undertaking their duties as they are the cornerstone of having a civil society,” Ms Carney said.

This Government has again another opportunity presented to it to increase police presence within Territory towns and cities by putting police in vehicles and on our streets.

This Government has the opportunity to change the laws so that habitual drunks can be dealt with by the courts.

This Government must afford protection to its frontline officers and if the community fails to respect our police, they should make them.

“As they have not done so, Territorians deserve to know where the Country Liberal Party stands and what we would do,” Ms Carney said.

“Today I have announced that the CLP would move immediately to make our streets safer. We would:
- Increase the number of police cars per sector of operation;
- Change the laws to give police the powers they need to take action; and
- Make people respect our frontline men and women with mandatory minimum sentences to people who assault our police.

“No matter where I go across the Territory it is the same message. Crime is on the rise and anti-social behaviour is out of control and the $8 million we have announced that the Government should spend is an investment that simply must be made,” Ms Carney said.

This government has thrown money at many of its government departments, but has done so without a plan.

“There are solutions to the problems at hand, but when it comes to law and order the Labor philosophy of softly, softly is not good enough,” Ms Carney said.

“Only the Country Liberal Party is demonstrating that it has fortitude to put forward and support these necessary solutions and only the CLP has the determination to see these through,” Ms Carney said.

2006-05-03