Estimates Day 3: Kate Worden: We don’t need the AFP “It hasn’t reached that level yet”

Media release from the Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro:

Today the Police Minister Kate Worden already embroiled in scandal and failure, further showed that she does not have what it takes to back and properly resource our Police.

Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro said, “Despite denying she knew the figure of Jamie Chalker’s pay-out said the Police budget was very large and could cop the hit.”

“This from a Police Minister that only increased the overall Police funding this year by just $1.854 million.”

“We also uncovered that 72 police officers were needed at the Howard Springs facility, during the time evacuees were there. This would have had a huge impact on the broader Darwin region and their ability to respond to other incidents.”

“Despite the skyrocketing levels of crime across the Territory and the calls made by the CLP and Territorians, Kate Worden said she had not ever requested AFP assistance as ‘it hadn’t reached that level yet’.”

“How much more do Territorians need to suffer, how many more Territorians need to be killed to reach her threshold?!”

“It’s no wonder our Police morale is so low when listening to Kate Worden today, who when asked about the NTPA survey results outlining how unsupported our police feel simply said ‘it’s outdated’.”

Later uncovering that of the 184 incidents of assaults on police and 298 charges laid only 82 resulted in conviction Mrs Finocchiaro said, “both the number of assaults and conviction rates are shocking and the Government cannot continue to sweep this under the rug. Cops go to work every day leaving their families, to protect ours, they deserve every support to be safe.”



The Opposition have uncovered:

• No charges have been laid for any damage to the Howard Springs facility despite the Fyles Government saying there would be consequences
• 72 officers worked at the Howard Springs facility while evacuees were there, not including recruits who also assisted.
• 113 Police left the force, financial year to March 31, including 19 Sergeants or above
• 184 offences of Police Assault, 298 charges were laid, only 82 resulted in conviction.
• Despite the record low Police morale there are only 6 psychologists/social workers
• 132 Electronic Monitoring Devices were used of those 127 were under the age of 18, 5 to Adults
• 195 alerts for tampering with the Electronic Monitoring Devices “strap alerts” like cutting off your tag, $6833 in damage
• 9 youths aged 10 and 11 were apprehended
• 376 Youths committed 1208 ‘events’ (events may include more than one offence, a break-in, ram raid and stolen car at the same location would be one ‘event’ only)
• Of the 376 Youth offenders, 290 were repeat offenders
• The Minister has not even decided who will do the review into Police
• $18.4 million has been spent on overtime financial year to March 31

-Police 159,000 hrs $12.8m (that equates to 580hrs per day)

-Fire 51,000 hrs $4.9m

-Emergency Services/Public servants 8400 hrs $622,000