❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Police about escalating crime in Fitzroy Crossing and requests a specialist task force. The Minister deflects, questions Catania's sources and criticises his approach.
AnsweredQoN 604Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR — REGIONS
604. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Locals in Fitzroy Crossing are pleading for action as they are at crisis point.
Will the minister establish a specialist task force to deal with the escalating
crime problem in Fitzroy Crossing?
BEHAVIOUR — REGIONS
604. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Locals in Fitzroy Crossing are pleading for action as they are at crisis point.
Will the minister establish a specialist task force to deal with the escalating
crime problem in Fitzroy Crossing?
AnswerView source ↗
Member,
which locals? I stayed overnight in Fitzroy during a recent visit that I undertook
to the Kimberley. I met with Emily Carter and I talked about the
situation in Fitzroy. I actually went there and talked to people. I am
wondering who the member spoke to and when he was there.
Mr V.A. Catania : It is reported
widely in the media.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Right. It has
come from a Facebook post or something, has it, member? Is that the source of
the member's question?
Mr V.A. Catania : So you're
dismissing the crime problem, are you?
Mr P. PAPALIA : When was the last
time the member was in Fitzroy?
Mr V.A. Catania : You're
dismissing the crime problem.
Mr P. PAPALIA : When was the
last time you were in Fitzroy?
Mr V.A. Catania : Answer the
question: what are you doing about the crime problem?
Mr
P. PAPALIA : I will say to the
member that I am working with my colleagues to ensure that we provide targeted ,
effective responses to crime right across the state. I would hope that the
member is aware of the challenges. Despite the nature of his questions, which
are often divisive and frequently borderline racist, I would hope that the
member is aware that the challenges confronting a lot of —
Several members interjected.
Mr
P. PAPALIA : The challenges
confronting a lot of our remote and regional communities are complex. They are
not ones that just happened overnight. They are ones we have inherited as a consequence
of a lot of failure and a lack of funding and resourcing over a long period,
particularly in the eight and a half years the Liberal and National Parties
were in government. We are addressing those challenges. They are complex; they
require a cross-government response. I go and see people in the communities to
talk with them. I say to them that we are working collaboratively across
portfolios to ensure an effective, targeted and reasoned response to really
complex challenges. There is no switch to
flick that will solve them. The member should know that. What certainly will
not solve them and what will not assist in any way at all is the nature
of the comments —
Mr V.A. Catania : We cannot
ask questions about crime—is that what you're saying?
Mr P. PAPALIA : I can tell the
member that none of the police officers I spoke to in Fitzroy wanted to speak
in the way that the member does. They do not want people speaking like the member
does. They do not want people making comments such as the member makes.
Universally, when I meet with police officers —
Mr V.A. Catania : People have
had enough.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Who has had
enough? They are fantastic police officers. I have talked to some wonderful
police officers in Fitzroy and other places like Derby, Lombadina, Bidyadanga
and other communities. Universally, they really do not appreciate commentary
from politicians like the member for North West Central who do not actually
talk to people but happily engage in divisive and negative commentary without
having any idea about how to assist to resolve a situation.
The
SPEAKER : A supplementary question
is a single supplementary question. It is not an opportunity to ask another six questions by way of interjection and expect a response. I will ask the
member for North West Central not to do that in future. I will also ask
ministers, if those interjections persist, not to entertain them.
which locals? I stayed overnight in Fitzroy during a recent visit that I undertook
to the Kimberley. I met with Emily Carter and I talked about the
situation in Fitzroy. I actually went there and talked to people. I am
wondering who the member spoke to and when he was there.
Mr V.A. Catania : It is reported
widely in the media.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Right. It has
come from a Facebook post or something, has it, member? Is that the source of
the member's question?
Mr V.A. Catania : So you're
dismissing the crime problem, are you?
Mr P. PAPALIA : When was the last
time the member was in Fitzroy?
Mr V.A. Catania : You're
dismissing the crime problem.
Mr P. PAPALIA : When was the
last time you were in Fitzroy?
Mr V.A. Catania : Answer the
question: what are you doing about the crime problem?
Mr
P. PAPALIA : I will say to the
member that I am working with my colleagues to ensure that we provide targeted ,
effective responses to crime right across the state. I would hope that the
member is aware of the challenges. Despite the nature of his questions, which
are often divisive and frequently borderline racist, I would hope that the
member is aware that the challenges confronting a lot of —
Several members interjected.
Mr
P. PAPALIA : The challenges
confronting a lot of our remote and regional communities are complex. They are
not ones that just happened overnight. They are ones we have inherited as a consequence
of a lot of failure and a lack of funding and resourcing over a long period,
particularly in the eight and a half years the Liberal and National Parties
were in government. We are addressing those challenges. They are complex; they
require a cross-government response. I go and see people in the communities to
talk with them. I say to them that we are working collaboratively across
portfolios to ensure an effective, targeted and reasoned response to really
complex challenges. There is no switch to
flick that will solve them. The member should know that. What certainly will
not solve them and what will not assist in any way at all is the nature
of the comments —
Mr V.A. Catania : We cannot
ask questions about crime—is that what you're saying?
Mr P. PAPALIA : I can tell the
member that none of the police officers I spoke to in Fitzroy wanted to speak
in the way that the member does. They do not want people speaking like the member
does. They do not want people making comments such as the member makes.
Universally, when I meet with police officers —
Mr V.A. Catania : People have
had enough.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Who has had
enough? They are fantastic police officers. I have talked to some wonderful
police officers in Fitzroy and other places like Derby, Lombadina, Bidyadanga
and other communities. Universally, they really do not appreciate commentary
from politicians like the member for North West Central who do not actually
talk to people but happily engage in divisive and negative commentary without
having any idea about how to assist to resolve a situation.
The
SPEAKER : A supplementary question
is a single supplementary question. It is not an opportunity to ask another six questions by way of interjection and expect a response. I will ask the
member for North West Central not to do that in future. I will also ask
ministers, if those interjections persist, not to entertain them.
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